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Doctrine of God 0004 - Lesson 3
Attached Audio:
- THE WORKS OF GOD (Continued)
- Creation (Continued)
- The problem of evil (Continued)
- The origin of evil (Continued)
- The origin of evil in Satan (Continued)
- Why is Satan allowed to continue working in the world today? Why has God not already destroyed him?
- The final destruction of the devil is predetermined. Jesus spoke of "everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
See All...). - But for now, he is allowed to continue as "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
See All...) and "the prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
See All...). - God must have a purpose or some purposes for allowing evil to continue in this world for a time. Here are some reasons He may allow evil to continue:
- Although Satan is chained and kept in the bottomless pit during the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth (Revelation 20:1-4 [1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
[2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
[3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
[4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
See All...), he is released for a season at the end of the thousand years so he can gather the nations to battle against the Lord (Revelation 20:7-8 [7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
See All...). When this is taken with the appearance of Satan as the serpent in the Garden of Eden, it seems that God does not want us to follow Him simply because we have no other choice. He wants heaven to be populated with people who have chosen Him over the offers of the devil. - Another reason is to demonstrate the power of God. If there were no conflict between good and evil, it would be much easier for God to bring about His purposes for the universe. However, the presence of an active evil that opposes all God does requires a greater power.
- When the brother of Joseph sold him into slavery, they did it for evil but God used their actions for good (Genesis 50:20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
See All...). - God will work it so that the wrath of man praises Him, while any wrath that will not praise Him will be restrained (Psalm 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
See All...). - Even the wicked will fulfill their purpose in God’s plan (Proverbs 16:4The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
See All...). - The believer is made stronger and more holy by his personal battles with evil.
- The believer learns of the faithfulness of God in dealing with temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
See All...). - The believer proves his love for God and will be rewarded for enduring temptation (James 1:12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
See All...). - Facing the evils of this world makes the believer stronger (Psalm 119:67Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
See All..., 71). - In seeing our own wickedness, we understand better the righteousness of God (Ezra 9:12-15 [12] Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
[13] And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
[14] Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
[15] O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
See All...). - The biblical statements that God creates evil.
- If God did not create evil, then why do several verses in the Bible say that He did (Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
See All...; Lamentations 3:38Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
See All...; Amos 3:6Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
See All...)? - Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
See All... (and the other verses) refer to evil in the sense of sorrows and not wickedness. - The word "evil" is used 613 times in the Bible. Although the Bible meaning of evil includes the idea of sinfulness or wickedness in many cases, it also has a broader meaning that is commonly used. In this broader meaning, evil refers to those things that are generally thought of as bad or undesirable; or as the dictionary says, "causing pain or trouble." This would include things such as wars or disease and this is the kind of evil referred to in Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
See All..., not wickedness. - Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
See All... makes two contrasts. First, light is contrasted with darkness. That makes perfect sense because the two ideas are exact opposites. Then, the verse contrasts peace with evil - "I make peace, and create evil." If evil means wickedness, this does not make sense. Peace is not the opposite of wickedness. However, if evil refers to troubles and sorrows as those found in war, it makes perfect sense. The second pair of ideas would then be complete opposites. - Lot feared to go into the mountain when he fled from Sodom, "lest some evil take me, and I die." He was not talking about iniquity catching him. He was referring to something bad happening.
- Genesis 37:20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
See All..., 33 both refer to an "evil beast." This obviously refers to a harmful beast; one that could hurt someone. The verses are not calling the beast sinful. - Conclusion: evil has a much broader meaning in the Bible. Clearly, in Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
See All..., the broader meaning of evil in meant. - This brings up another problem. Is God the cause of all sorrow in the world? Do we blame Him for every tragedy we see? And, if so, how can this be right? If God is love, how can He bring such sorrows on mankind?
- God is not the singular author of all evil--even when we understand that it refers to trouble and sorrow. Nothing in this verse states that God is the source of all evil. Man brings many evils on himself. Certainly, the declaration that God creates evil refers to His judgment of man's disobedience. That is, when man disobeys God and evil comes as the result of his disobedience, the God who is the only God is the source of that evil. He is the creator of it. See Deuteronomy 32:39See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
See All...; 1 Samuel 2:6-7 [6] The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. [7] The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
See All...; Job 2:10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
See All...; Psalm 75:7But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
See All.... - Therefore, God is not the author of sin as some would teach. Isaiah 45:7I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
See All... is not talking about sin but about the sorrows of judgment. Sin came from the rebellion of Satan and entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. They partook of the forbidden fruit of their own free will and were not made to do so by God. However, when sorrows do come in judgment for sin; then peace is replaced by war because of iniquity. The evil that comes from above does not come from a different god than the God of love. There is just one God and He is absolute. The God of love is also the God of judgment. He is the balm of Gilead and He is a consuming fire. We must look to Him alone. - Preservation
- The concept of preservation
- Even among those who believe in God are many who have the idea that it is enough for God to begin things perfectly (like creation and the word of God) and then allow these things to continue on their own after He has created them.
- Some of these people are deists and believe that God created the universe and then left it much to its own ways.
- Many others are not deists in the theological sense, but they are practical deists in certain areas of God’s domain.
- Those who believe in theistic evolution believe that God initiated creation and then allowed it to develop through evolution.
- Those who believe that a person can lose their salvation believe that God initiated a perfect salvation but the maintaining of it depends at least in part on the believer.
- Many believe that God gave His word perfectly by inspiration, but that circumstances and the efforts of men are responsible for the text that we have today.
- The biblical concept of preservation teaches us that God’s power is not only necessary to initiate His works but that it is also necessary to keep and maintain His works.
- Ecclesiastes 3:14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
See All... – “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” - God does not do something and then leave it
- What God does shall be forever
- Psalm 119:90-91 [90] Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
[91] They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
See All... – “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.” - God established the earth
- The earth abides and continues according to His ordinances
- All created things are servants to the Lord
- Acts 17:28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
See All... – “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” - God does not stop at giving us life
- In God, we live and move and have our being; He continually is our life.
- Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
See All... – “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” - God declared the end from the time of the beginning
- God maintains the authority of His counsel
- God continues to do all His pleasure
- Nehemiah 9:6Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
See All... – “Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." - God made all the works of creation
- God preserves them all
- The works of heaven worship Him
- Note: this is just a sampling of the multitude of verses that testify to the continued preservation of God’s works by God Himself.
- Biblical usage of preservation
- Forms: preserve, preserved, preservest, preserveth
- Total references: 56
- Basic meaning of preservation
- Negative meaning used externally – to keep from harm, injury, damage, danger, destruction, evil, etc.
- Negative meaning used internally – to keep from spoiling, rotting or decaying
- Positive meaning – to keep up, carry on, maintain, uphold, sustain; “to keep in a sound state” Webster, 1828
- Doctrinal definition: Preservation is the act of God by which He maintains life and soundness in those things which He has brought into existence.
- Preservation of creation
- Preservation is the complement of creation.
- By creation, God brings the universe into existence out of nothing. By preservation, God keeps the universe from returning to nothing.
- In creation, God brings the world into production. In preservation, He continues it through reproduction (Psalm 104:29-30 [29] Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
[30] Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
See All...; Amos 4:13For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.
See All...). - In a very real sense, preservation is the continuation of creation. Revelation 4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
See All... states, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” God has created all things. But notice: for His “pleasure they are and were created.” They “were” created but they also “are” created. Creation as an event was finished on the six day of creation (Genesis 2:1-4 [1] Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. [2] And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. [3] And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. [4] These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
See All...), but through preservation it continues giving existence and life to all of creation every moment. - The Bible speaks of God’s preservation of creation in several ways:
- God preserves the universe (Nehemiah 9:6Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
See All...). - Jesus Christ is central in the work of preservation
- All things were created by Him (Colossians 1:16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
See All...) - By Him all things consist (Colossians 1:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
See All...). The word consist refers to how something is held together (as in its consistency). All things are held together by Jesus Christ. - Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
See All...). Not only are all things created by the word (Hebrews 11:3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
See All...), but they are also preserved (upheld) by the word. This being the case, the destruction of the universe may need to be nothing more than God ceasing to hold it together (2 Peter 3:10-12 [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
See All...).
Proverbs 30:4
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?