Grappling With Why God Allows Evil To Continue
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"For God knew that in whatever day ye should eat of it your eyes would be opened, and ye would be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes to look upon and beautiful to contemplate ..."
Gen 3:5
She:
a) wanted to be like god
b) had a taste for it
c) found pleasure in looking at the tree
d) found pleasure in thinking about it
All this before the fall. Its in our human nature, not given to us by fall. The serpent just exploited her natural weaknesses.
BTW b, c, d are the same gates as for a sexual temptation.
And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes to look upon and beautiful to contemplate ..."
Gen 3:5
She:
a) wanted to be like god
b) had a taste for it
c) found pleasure in looking at the tree
d) found pleasure in thinking about it
All this before the fall. Its in our human nature, not given to us by fall. The serpent just exploited her natural weaknesses.
BTW b, c, d are the same gates as for a sexual temptation.
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They had not eaten of the Tree of Life, which, can you accept, was a precursor/shadow/type of Jesus, the true vine? They were of the flesh, not yet born again of the Spirit. Galatians 5:17 says, For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
I trust the Love that is my Father in Heaven.
If He were not Love, I would not be here, that is, in this age
and in this world.
Whatever reason my Father has put me, all, here is good because He is Good.
Perhaps we all did something before the creation, who knows?
Perhaps it is that we need to be processed spiritually in a manner that leaves
us eternally adequate to be in perfection.
Whatever is the reason my Father is right always, and His will is good.
As for evil existing in this age, the pivotal words here are, "in this age," one day
all evil suffering, pain, wrong-doing and whatever other wickedness exissting now will
be separated once and for all from all that is good, joy, gladness, perfection, and all
the wonder to come.
We are here to choose between the good and the evil; we choose with which we would spend
eternity. The existence of evil is reason enough for anyone to turn to the Perfection and Goodness
that is our Father, amen.
If He were not Love, I would not be here, that is, in this age
and in this world.
Whatever reason my Father has put me, all, here is good because He is Good.
Perhaps we all did something before the creation, who knows?
Perhaps it is that we need to be processed spiritually in a manner that leaves
us eternally adequate to be in perfection.
Whatever is the reason my Father is right always, and His will is good.
As for evil existing in this age, the pivotal words here are, "in this age," one day
all evil suffering, pain, wrong-doing and whatever other wickedness exissting now will
be separated once and for all from all that is good, joy, gladness, perfection, and all
the wonder to come.
We are here to choose between the good and the evil; we choose with which we would spend
eternity. The existence of evil is reason enough for anyone to turn to the Perfection and Goodness
that is our Father, amen.
Lol!
You asked: what kind of battle is that if your enemy has to ask permission to attack??
My answer was: a battle with a referee?
And keep in mind that I didn't pull it out of thin air. There are two biblical precedents showing satan asking permission to attack 2 different men.
Another way to say it might be...a helper who levels the playing field so that no one has an undue advantage in which the other side has no hope of even getting their armor on before they are dead.
I mean, even you yourself agreed earlier that God has placed limits on satan. If he didn't, who would have a chance to even learn about what their armor was or putting it on before they were murdalized?
You asked: what kind of battle is that if your enemy has to ask permission to attack??
My answer was: a battle with a referee?
And keep in mind that I didn't pull it out of thin air. There are two biblical precedents showing satan asking permission to attack 2 different men.
Another way to say it might be...a helper who levels the playing field so that no one has an undue advantage in which the other side has no hope of even getting their armor on before they are dead.
I mean, even you yourself agreed earlier that God has placed limits on satan. If he didn't, who would have a chance to even learn about what their armor was or putting it on before they were murdalized?
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Hebrews 2:14-15 says:
Held in slavery to what? Sin would be the proper response, don't you think? So we are held in slavery to sin (he who sins is a slave of sin, too) by our fear of death, until we are freed by faith in the shed righteous blood of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, Who broke the bonds of sin and death, giving His life as a ransom for many, due to His great love for us.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Held in slavery to what? Sin would be the proper response, don't you think? So we are held in slavery to sin (he who sins is a slave of sin, too) by our fear of death, until we are freed by faith in the shed righteous blood of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, Who broke the bonds of sin and death, giving His life as a ransom for many, due to His great love for us.
Only God is perfect.
Any creation has limits ("flaws") that can be exploited if allowed. Even angels make mistakes, as the Bible says. How much more physical creatures having chemistry, fears, pains, diseases etc.
Our spiritual bodies will make us much better in power and glory, but angels are not without flaws either.
Any creation has limits ("flaws") that can be exploited if allowed. Even angels make mistakes, as the Bible says. How much more physical creatures having chemistry, fears, pains, diseases etc.
Our spiritual bodies will make us much better in power and glory, but angels are not without flaws either.
Were they in the flesh, or born of the Spirit? I think Scripture makes plain they were the former (see also below, underlined). If they had eaten of the Tree of Life, which I believe to be a type of Christ, they surely would not have died, for it was that very reason God barred them from the Tree of Life, that they would not live forever. Genesis 3:22-24
And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
And also pertaining to Adam and Eve being of the flesh, and not the Spirit:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
4[SUP]5 [/SUP]And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a
living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
[SUP]
46 [/SUP]Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that
which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
[SUP]
47 [/SUP]The first man is of the earth, earthy;
the second man is the Lord from heaven.
[SUP]
48 [/SUP]As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and
as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
[SUP]
49 [/SUP]And as we have borne the image of the earthy,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
[SUP]
50 [/SUP]Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15:44-50
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
4[SUP]5 [/SUP]And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a
living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
[SUP]
46 [/SUP]Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that
which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
[SUP]
47 [/SUP]The first man is of the earth, earthy;
the second man is the Lord from heaven.
[SUP]
48 [/SUP]As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and
as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
[SUP]
49 [/SUP]And as we have borne the image of the earthy,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
[SUP]
50 [/SUP]Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15:44-50
Fruit has various meanings in Scripture 
Gardening metaphors are quite numerous in the Bible, also.
Jesus is the true vine, God the gardener; we are but branches.
As Christians, we are exhorted to bear fruit.
We know we are not trees, but only {metaphorical} branches, offshoots of the true vine, Jesus Christ. I believe He was the {metaphorical} tree of Life placed in the garden of Eden; He holds the keys to life and death; all life is in Him; He is author and giver of life etc, and eternal life is promised to those who abide in Him (John 15:4-5). Otherwise: death.
The fruit we are to bear has different aspects to it. One is character building: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Peter adds to this: make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.
So our life surrendered to God, and our works through faith are fruit, and so are people who come to Christ through us (Romans 1:3; Philipians 4:17), and there is also the fruit of our lips as we praise God and witness to others (Hebrews 13:15).
These are good fruits, partaken of when aligned with the will of God.
Evil fruits would be the result of disobeying God, defying God, following self will in opposition to God's will, severing ourselves from fellowship with Him, etc. That is the fruit Adam and Eve bore and ate (lived). They followed the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, in turning away from God after being in fellowship with Him. It is what we all do before being regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God.
I think it will be wonderful to be restored to the garden in the new earth. Come LORD Jesus.
Gardening metaphors are quite numerous in the Bible, also.
Jesus is the true vine, God the gardener; we are but branches.
As Christians, we are exhorted to bear fruit.
We know we are not trees, but only {metaphorical} branches, offshoots of the true vine, Jesus Christ. I believe He was the {metaphorical} tree of Life placed in the garden of Eden; He holds the keys to life and death; all life is in Him; He is author and giver of life etc, and eternal life is promised to those who abide in Him (John 15:4-5). Otherwise: death.
The fruit we are to bear has different aspects to it. One is character building: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Peter adds to this: make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.
So our life surrendered to God, and our works through faith are fruit, and so are people who come to Christ through us (Romans 1:3; Philipians 4:17), and there is also the fruit of our lips as we praise God and witness to others (Hebrews 13:15).
These are good fruits, partaken of when aligned with the will of God.
Evil fruits would be the result of disobeying God, defying God, following self will in opposition to God's will, severing ourselves from fellowship with Him, etc. That is the fruit Adam and Eve bore and ate (lived). They followed the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, in turning away from God after being in fellowship with Him. It is what we all do before being regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God.
I think it will be wonderful to be restored to the garden in the new earth. Come LORD Jesus.
Would the tendency to sin come from being of the flesh, earthly? The sin nature is what we inherited as a result of Adam's sin. There is a good read on it here: https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-nature.html
The sin nature was inherited by humanity from Adam. The tendency to sin was within Adam and Eve as shown in the Fall. We really cannot go much beyond that. Rationally and logically, they had absolutely no compelling reason to disobey God. The Garden of Eden was literally a Paradise and they lacked absolutely nothing.