Hamartiology Flashcards
(11 cards)
The Problem of Evil (Metaphysical)
Problem
* God is the author of everything.
* Evil is something.
* Therefore, God is the author of evil.
Reply
* God is the author of everything.
* But evil is not a thing (substance).
* Hence, God is not necessarily the author of evil.
Evil is not a substance or thing. God made everything good (Gen. 1:31). Evil is real in that it is the absence of good. Therefore, God made free creatures who rebelled and brought about this corruption.
The Problem of Evil (Moral)
Problem
If moral evil comes from free creatures, why would a good and all-powerful God allow evil creatures to operate in His universe?
Reply
* With the possibility of evil also comes the possibility of achieving greater good.
* The best moral world results from having contested evil (James 1:12).
* God can display more of His attributes. (Love-Rom. 5:8; Longsuffering-II Peter 3:9)
* Men will be able to freely love God and develop virtues that are only possible in a world with evil. (Faith-James 1:2-3; Courage-Josh. 1:9.)
* Evil’s true character of utter foolishness will be seen (Rev. 20:10).
The Problem of Evil (Physical)
Problem
Why does a perfect God allow “unnecessary” human suffering and pain?
Response
Human Choice
Alcohol, drug addiction etc.
* Gal. 6:7-8 …whatever a man sows, that he will also reap…
Punishment for Sin
* Ez. 18:4 The soul that sins shall die.
Perfects Character
* James 1:3 Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Sin Cursed World.
* Rev. 21:4 And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death… mourning… crying, or pain.
Origin of Sin
Not God
* Hab. 1:13 Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor.
* James.1:13 God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt any one.
Satan
* Ezek. 28:15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.
* John 8:44 the devil …was a murderer from the beginning …there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
* I John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning…
The Fall of Man
The Temptation
* Gen. 3:1-5 Indeed has God said…
* I John 2:16 …the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
The Disobedience
* Gen. 3:6 the woman… took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
* Rom. 5:19 …through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners…
The Effect
* Gen. 2:17 … in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.
* Gen. 3:14-19 Serpent cursed, Enmity between seeds, pain in childbirth, ruling husband, ground cursed, endless toil, physical death.
* Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-
The Nature of Sin
- Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
- I John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
- I John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin.
Guilt of Sin
Personal Sin
Def. - Any lack of conformity to the character of God.
* Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
* Is. 64:6 …all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.
Transmitted Sin
Def.- The sin nature inherited from the parents.
* Ps. 51:5 I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
* Eph. 2:3 …were by nature children of wrath…
Imputed Sin
Def. - We all sinned in Adam.
* Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-
* I Cor. 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ, all shall be made alive.
Under Sin
Def. - A decree during the age of grace in which all are under sin.
Gal. 3:22 Scripture has shut up all men under sin…
Penalty of Sin
- Ez. 18:4 The soul who sins will die.
- John 3:36 …he who does not obey …the wrath of God abides on him.
- Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…
Effects of Sin
Depraved
Mind
* Titus 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
* Eph. 4:17 just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind.
Emotions
* Jer. 17:9 The heart is more deceitful than all else…
* Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…
Will
* Rom. 1:32 …although they know the ordinance of God… they not only do the same, but give hearty approval to those who practice them.
* Eph. 4:18 darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.
Alienated from God
Hostile Towards God
* John 3:19 …Men loved darkness rather than the light…
* Rom. 3:11 There is none who seeks for God…
* Rom. 8:7 Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God…
No Relationship with God
* Hab. 1:13 Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor…
* Eph. 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.
* Eph. 4:18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.
Unpardonable Sin
- Matt. 12:31 …blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Context: Jews ascribed to Satan the witnessing work of the Spirit. A deliberate rejection of the convicting and witnessing work of the Spirit. Precise sin cannot be committed, but principle can. - Heb. 6:1-8 …have once been enlightened… and then have fallen away…
- Heb. 10:26-29 Sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth.
Sin Unto Death
- I John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us…
- I John 5:16 There is a sin leading to death: I do not say that he should make request for this.
This is a reference to unbelief and apostasy which results in spiritual death.
* “Death” is clearly in contrast to “life” which is spiritual not physical.
* It refers to those who appeared to be believers, yet never really belonged to Christ (Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-29).
* John uses “thanatos” one other time in I John 3:13 where it clearly means spiritual death.
