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These verses may seem unfair to us, but God uses evil to accomplish His purposes. He is not the author of sin. He does not sin. But in order to inflict discipline (Pharaoh and Ahab), to cause growth (Job), and sometimes to cause a greater good (Joseph), He uses evil to accomplish His purpose. From the mere fact that He permitted sin to exist, we know that He is willing for sin to exist. Otherwise, He could have prevented it. This does not mean that He sins, created sin, or causes us to sin.
Conclusion: God is in total control of His creation down to the smallest event in our own lives. God directly intervenes to change events and the hearts of men and women to accomplish His purposes. God willed sin to exist, determined who would be saved, has determined the length of our lives, and when the creation should be destroyed. Yet, sin became a reality when Adam and Eve sinned. He permitted it to exist. In that sense He willed sin to exist. Many object to the idea that God has determined who will be saved. Yet, God also says that if anyone wants to be saved, we can be. It is our decision. Does this make sense? No, but He promised that it was true. All we need to do is respond if we want to be saved. What it must mean is that anyone who wants to be saved has been selected. Does that make God evil? The answer is that none of us deserve to be saved. We are all sinners. Our parents (Adam and Eve) caused this to happen. So it does matter how we live. He does not control every decision. We close with this passage,
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You do not have because you do not ask. (NASB) James 4:2 |
That does not sound like everything is determined. Do you want to be saved? If so, tell Him! |
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