Introduction:
To many minds, the origin of sin and the reason for its existence are a source of great perplexity. They see the work of evil, with its terrible results of woe and desolation, and they question how all this can exist under the sovereignty of One who is infinite in wisdom, in power, and in love. Here is a mystery, of which they find no explanation. And in their uncertainty and doubt, they are blinded to truths plainly revealed in God’s Word, and essential to salvation. There are those who, in their inquiries concerning the existence of sin, endeavor to search into that which God has never revealed; hence they find no solution of their difficulties; and such as are actuated by a disposition to doubt and cavil, seize upon this as an excuse for rejecting the words of Holy Writ. Others, however, fail of a satisfactory understanding of the great problem of evil, from the fact that tradition and misinterpretation have obscured the teaching of the Bible concerning the character of God, the nature of his government, and the principles of his dealing with sin. {GC88 492.1}
It is impossible to so explain the origin of sin as to give a reason for its existence. Yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin and the final disposition of sin, to fully make manifest the justice and benevolence of God in all his dealings with evil. Nothing is more plainly taught in Scripture than that God was in nowise responsible for the entrance of sin; that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, no deficiency in the divine government, that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion. Sin is an intruder, for whose presence no reason can be given. It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it, is to defend it. Could excuse for it be found, or cause be shown for its existence, it would cease to be sin. Our only definition of sin is that given in the Word of God; it is “the transgression of the law;” it is the outworking of a principle at war with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government. {GC88 492.2}
Scriptural Thought:
“For by Him [the Son] 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.” Col. 1:16. “All things were made by Him [through Him, R. V., margin]: and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John ,1: 3. See also Heb. 1: 1, 2.
A. Where does Sin Originated? Who originated it?
In a word, pride and self-exaltation led to Satan’s downfall, and for these there is no justification or adequate excuse. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 16: 18. Hence, while we may know of the origin, cause, character, and results of evil, no good or sufficient reason or excuse can be given for it. To excuse it is to justify it; and the moment it is justified it ceases to be sin. All sin is a manifestation of selfishness in some form, and its results are the opposite of those prompted by love. The experiment of sin will result finally in its utter abandonment and banishment forever, by all created intelligences, throughout the entire universe of God. Only those who foolishly and persistently cling to sin will be destroyed with it. The wicked will then “be as though they had not been” (Obadiah 16), and the righteous shall “shine as the brightness of the firmament,” and “as the stars forever and ever.” Dan. 12:3. “Affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1: 9. See reading on “Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan,” page 499.
Inasmuch as God, who is love, who delights in mercy, and who changes not, offered pardon and granted a period of probation to man when he sinned, it is but reasonable to conclude that a like course was pursued toward the heavenly intelligences who first sinned, and that only those who persisted in sin, and took their stand in open revolt and rebellion against God and the government of heaven, were finally cast out of heaven. Rev. 12: 7-9.
B. Why Sin was permitted to enter to the Earth?
That sin exists none can deny. Why it was permitted has perplexed many minds. But He who can bring light out of darkness (2 Cor. 4: 6), make the wrath of man to praise Him (Ps. 76:10), and turn a curse into a blessing (Deut. 23:5), can bring good out of evil, and turn mistakes and downfalls into stepping-stones to higher ground. Heaven will be happier for the sorrows of earth. “Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy,” says Robert Pollok, in “The Course of Time,” book 1.
In the final outcome it will be seen that all things have worked together for good to them that love God. Rom. 8: 28. Cowper, despondent and about to drown himself, was carried the wrong way by his driver, and went home to write the inspiring hymn below.
God moves in a mysterious way; His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea; And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines; Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break; In blessings o’er your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence; He hides a smiling face.
Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.
WILLIAM COWPER.
C. What’s the Result of Sin?
God has not left them to perish in their sins, but will help the weak and helpless, if they cast themselves in faith upon him. Those who have been in the practice of secret indulgence until they have prostrated the physical and mental strength, may never fully recover the result of the violation of nature’s laws; but their only salvation in this world, and that which is to come, depends upon an entire reform. Every deviation is making recovery more hopeless. None should be discouraged if they perceive no decided improvement in their health after the habit has been broken off for quite a length of time. If nature’s laws have not been too long abused, she will carry on her restoring process, although it may not be immediately realized. But some have so long abused nature that she cannot recover entirely. Such must feel as long as they live, to a greater or less degree, the result of the violation of nature’s laws. {ApM 22.2}
We do not include all the youth who are feeble as guilty of wrong habits. There are those who are pure-minded and conscientious, who are sufferers from different causes over which they have no control. {ApM 23.1}
We are dependent on the Bible for a knowledge of the early history of our world, of the creation of Adam and Eve, and of their fall. Remove the Word of God, and what can we expect other than to be left to fables and conjectures, and to that enfeebling of the intellect which is the sure result of entertaining error? We need the authentic history of the origin of the earth, of the fall of the covering cherub, and of the introduction of sin into our world. Without the Bible we should be bewildered by false theories. . . . {CTr 351.4}
Wherever Christians are they may hold communion with God. And they may enjoy the intelligence of sanctified science. Their minds may be strengthened even as Daniel’s was. . . . {CTr 351.5}
D. What’s the Remedy for Sin?
He showed how Moses had pointed Israel forward to Christ as that Prophet whom they were to hear; how all the prophets had testified of Him as God’s great remedy for sin, the guiltless One who was to bear the sins of the guilty. He did not find fault with their observance of forms and ceremonies, but showed that while they maintained the ritual service with great exactness, they were rejecting Him who was the antitype of all that system. {AA 451.4}
God gave His only begotten Son to the human race, that people might become partakers of the divine nature by accepting the remedy for sin and allowing the divine grace of Christ to work in their lives. . . . Fallen humans, by laying hold of the divine power brought within their reach, can become one with God. Everlasting life is the blessing that Christ came to give to the world. {CTr 32.3}
Let us seek to understand our privilege of walking and working with God. The gospel, though it contains God’s expressed will, is of no value to men, high or low, rich or poor, unless they place themselves in subjection to God. He who bears to his fellow men the remedy for sin must himself first be moved by the Spirit of God. He must not ply the oars unless he is under divine direction. He cannot work effectually, he cannot carry out the will of God in harmony with the divine mind, unless he finds out, not from human sources, but from infinite wisdom, that God is pleased with his plans. {CH 525.1}
Creation and the Creator
How beautiful the earth was when it came from the Creator’s hand! God presented before the universe a world in which even His all-seeing eye could find no spot or stain, no defect or crookedness. Each part of His creation occupied the place assigned it and answered the purpose for which it was created. Like the parts of some great machine, part fitted to part, and all was in perfect harmony. . . . There was no disease . . . and the vegetable kingdom was without taint of corruption. God looked upon the work of His hands wrought out by Christ and pronounced it “very good.” He looked upon a perfect world, in which there was no trace of sin, no imperfection. {CTr 8.2}
The Origin of Evil
Was Satan created sinful? “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Eze. 28: 15.
— This, and the statement in John 8:44, that he “abode not in the truth,” show that Satan was once perfect, and in the truth. Peter speaks of “the angels that sinned” (2 Peter 2: 4); and Jude refers to “the angels which kept not their first estate” (Jude 6); both of which show that these angels were once in a state of sinlessness and innocence.
In a word, pride and self-exaltation led to Satan’s downfall, and for these there is no justification or adequate excuse. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 16: 18. Hence, while we may know of the origin, cause, character, and results of evil, no good or sufficient reason or excuse can be given for it. To excuse it is to justify it; and the moment it is justified it ceases to be sin. All sin is a manifestation of selfishness in some form, and its results are the opposite of those prompted by love. The experiment of sin will result finally in its utter abandonment and banishment forever, by all created intelligences, throughout the entire universe of God. Only those who foolishly and persistently cling to sin will be destroyed with it. The wicked will then “be as though they had not been” (Obadiah 16), and the righteous shall “shine as the brightness of the firmament,” and “as the stars forever and ever.” Dan. 12:3. “Affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1: 9. See reading on “Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan,” page 499.
Inasmuch as God, who is love, who delights in mercy, and who changes not, offered pardon and granted a period of probation to man when he sinned, it is but reasonable to conclude that a like course was pursued toward the heavenly intelligences who first sinned, and that only those who persisted in sin, and took their stand in open revolt and rebellion against God and the government of heaven, were finally cast out of heaven. Rev. 12: 7-9.
The Fall and Redemption of Man
Will sin and its evil results ever appear again? “What do ye imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9. “There shall be no more death.’ “And there shall be no more curse.” Rev. 21:4; 22:3. NOTE.— That sin exists none can deny. Why it was permitted has perplexed many minds. But He who can bring light out of darkness (2 Cor. 4: 6), make the wrath of man to praise Him (Ps. 76:10), and turn a curse into a blessing (Deut. 23:5), can bring good out of evil, and turn mistakes and downfalls into stepping-stones to higher ground. Heaven will be happier for the sorrows of earth. “Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy,” says Robert Pollok, in “The Course of Time,” book 1. In the final outcome it will be seen that all things have worked together for good to them that love God. Rom. 8: 28.
When Christ saw that there was no human being able to be humanity’s intercessor, He Himself entered the fierce conflict and battled with Satan. The First Begotten of God was the only one who could liberate those who by Adam’s sin had been brought in subjection to Satan. {CTr 8.4}
Creation and Redemption
That comparatively modern view of creation known as evolution, which rests upon human research rather than upon divine revelation, and which substitutes an impersonal force for a personal Creator, overthrows the very foundation of the gospel. Redemption is simply the new creation, and the Creator is the Redeemer. The Head of the original creation is the Head of the new creation. The original creation was wrought through Christ by the power of the word; the new creation, or redemption, is wrought in exactly the same way. The evolutionary theory of creation inevitably involves an evolutionary theory of the gospel, and sets aside the truth concerning sin, the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and the necessity of becoming new creatures through faith in the saving power of Christ.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” {Rom. 12:1} We are not our own. By creation and by redemption we belong to God. The clay out of which we are formed is his production; and “hath not the potter power over the clay?” Not only this, but we have been bought with a price, even “with the precious blood of Christ.” The great Master Artist alone is the rightful owner of the work of his hands; and he has a claim on our willing service; “for in him we live, and move, and have our being.” {ST, January 21, 1897 par. 1}
The Character and Attributes of God
The attributes of God are goodness, mercy (Ps. 145:9), love {1John 4:8), long-suffering (Ps. 86:15), and patience, righteous in His ways (Ps. 146:17) and his followers are to possess the same attributes of character, representing Christ in true spirituality. Meekness, the treasure of inward wealth, may be possessed in the midst of poverty and sorrow. The soul reveals the source of its strength in the manifestation of meekness and lowliness of heart; for the grace of meekness has its origin in the source of all blessedness, and those who possess this grace are in harmony with Christ and the Father. The followers of Christ thus become one with each other. If meekness and love are not a part of our character, we are not the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our whole experience is feeble and uncertain. {ST, August 22, 1895 par. 2}
The Love of God
In what act especially has God’s love been manifested? “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” 1 John 4: 9.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. . . . And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (See further 1 John 4:18-21.) {RH, February 23, 1897 par. 1}
The Deity of. Christ
But without faith it is impossible to please Him [God, the Father]: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11: 6. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels • and then He shall reward every man ac- cording to his works.’ Matt. 16: 27.
In the texts (Matt. 16:27; 13 : 41; 24 : 31) in which Christ refers to the angels as ” His angels” and to the kingdom as ” His kingdom ” and to the elect as ” His elect,” He refers to Himself as ” the Son of man.” It thus appears that while He was on earth as a man, He recognized His essential deity and His equality with His Father in heaven.
Prophecies Relating to Christ
The Lord Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God, gave his own life to save perishing man, and, oh, what light, what power, he brings with him! In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily. What a mystery of mysteries! It is difficult for the reason to grasp the majesty of Christ, the mystery of redemption. The shameful cross has been upraised, the nails have been driven through his hands and feet, the cruel spear has pierced to his heart, and the redemption price has been paid for the human race. The spotless Lamb of God bore our sins in his own body upon the tree; he carried our sorrows. Redemption is an inexhaustible theme, worthy of our closest contemplation. It passes the comprehension of the deepest thought, the stretch of the most vivid imagination. Who by searching can find out God? The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are opened to all men, and were thousands of the most gifted men to devote their whole time to setting forth Jesus always before us, studying how they might portray his matchless charms, they would never exhaust the subject. Although great and talented authors have made known wonderful truths, and have presented increased light to the people, still in our day we shall find new ideas, and ample fields in which to work, for the theme of salvation is inexhaustible. The work has gone forward from century to century, setting forth the life and character of Christ, and the love of God as manifested in the atoning sacrifice. The theme of redemption will employ the minds of the redeemed through all eternity. There will be new and rich developments made manifest in the plan of salvation throughout eternal ages. {RH, June 3, 1890 par. 6}
But Christ came as a personal Saviour to the world. He represented a personal God. As a personal Saviour, he ascended on high; and he will come again as he ascended to heaven,–a personal Saviour. He is the express image of the Father’s person. “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” {RH, November 8, 1898 par. 15}
Christ the Way of Life
Those who are making void the law of God in this age are under a deception fully as dangerous as were the Jews. They depreciate the Old Testament Scriptures and exalt the New. The New Testament presents the same standard of righteousness as the Old. It is the key to the Old. Abel was a Christian; he died for Christ because he acknowledged Him in the blood of the slain lamb. Noah was a Christian. He unflinchingly endured the test of his faith. He was righteous in his day, and is called a “preacher of righteousness.” Christ was the Way for the antediluvian church; He was the Way for the patriarchs, for the prophets , and He is the Way for the Christian church today. Christ is brought to view in the Old Testament Scriptures as a personal Saviour. And the same Christ who was the Way in the Old Testament Scriptures declares in the New, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” {ST, January 10, 1900 par. 7}
Salvation Only Through Christ
FOR what purpose did Christ come into the world? “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Tim. 1: 15.
Through whom only may we come to Goal “There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. . . . I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” 1 Tim. 2: 5-8.
Only by accepting Christ as a personal Saviour can human beings be uplifted. Beware of any theory that would lead men to look for salvation from any other source than that pointed out in the Word. Only through Christ can men, sunken in sin and degradation, be led to a higher life. Theories that do not recognize the atonement that has been made for sin, and the work that the Holy Spirit is to do in the hearts of human beings, are powerless to save. {9MR 241.1}
Salvation is God’s free gift to the believer, given to him for Christ’s sake alone. The troubled soul may find peace through faith in Christ. . . . He cannot present his good works as a plea for the salvation of his soul. {OHC 118.4}
Oh Thou eternal One! whose presence bright
All space doth occupy, all motion guide;
Unchanged through time’s all devastating flight!
Thou only God — there is no God beside!
Being above all beings! Mighty One,
Whom none can comprehend and none explore;
Who fill’st existence with Thyself alone,
Embracing all, supporting, ruling o’er; •
Being whom we call God, and know no more!
Thou from primeval nothingness didst call
First chaos, then existence; Lord, on Thee
Eternity hath its foundation; all
Sprung forth from Thee,— of light, joy, harmony,
Sole origin,— all life, all beauty Thine;
Thy word created all, and doth create;
Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine;
Thou art and wert and shalt be! Glorious! Great!
Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate!
DERZHAVIN.
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