Original Sin & The Problem of Evil

Judging from the state of the world, it is not uncommon then to find both blame for God and disbelief in him. While some people are simply enslaved by their lust, many fail to recognize the far-reaching effects of sin. It is the result of one man’s sin that death reigns and all men are condemned as sinners (Romans 5:15-19; Genesis 3:14-16). “Adam and Eve’s disobedience and commission of sin brought tragic spiritual, physical, and social deprivation to the entire human race.”[3] The blame must be placed at the feet of Adam and Eve.

However, in light of the ensuing state of dysfunction, it becomes difficult not to ask the two questions mentioned at the onset of this discussion. Even more difficult is accepting biblical doctrine that in order not to violate God’s own nature, he had to provide the first humans with options (Genesis 2:8-17). The first couple “were placed under a probationary arrangement, whereby their obedience and loyalty to God would be tested. To be authentically human, Adam and Eve must have the opportunity to choose between loyalty to God or to self.”[4] That choice “and probation centered around the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9).[5] By choosing to please self, the first couple failed the loyalty test. It is clear now, that “had the first couple eaten obediently from the Tree of Life instead of the Tree of Knowledge, they would have secured everlasting life as the reward of their faith.”[6] The choice to “take of the fruit and eat” (Genesis 3:6) sealed their future. “Through this free act of the will sin entered the human family through Adam and Eve, the progenitors of the race.”[7]

The actions of the first couple have resulted in a corrupt nature, riddled with sin, decay, guilt, and condemnation being imputed to all of mankind. Death, evil, destruction, pain, and suffering now ravage this world. The evil experienced in this world now comes from within and without. “Out of the heart of fallen man comes evil thoughts which include murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:18-19). At any given moment, a man will engage in acts of the flesh which include “sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21). This list would read like the average breaking news on any number of media platforms. The world would do well to consider the state of their world, except, since the fall not only did mankind become the enemy of God, but Satan, and his demons made a concerted effort to blind men’s eyes to their state (1 John 15:9). And God has saw fit to give mankind over to their lust (Genesis 6:5; Ephesians 4:18-19; Romans 1:18-32; Titus 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:2-5).