Some thoughts in regards to “God’s Authorship of Sin,” which I was recently asked about, along with some general observations from the scriptures that pertain to this subject matter. As an introductory statement I’ll affirm my fixed persuasion that man’s will has no independent existence outside the realm of God’s decree, and that the LORD is actively controlling all things according to his eternal counsel, so that everything is exactly the way it should be! Every atom is precisely positioned, every star is in its designated orbit, every sparrow duly provided for, &c., nothing is haphazard, and all things perfectly arranged as all of creation unerringly moves “according to the eternal purpose” which GOD “purposed in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:11. “For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 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.” Isaiah 46:9-10. Whatever persuasions we may be brought to as we search the scriptures, Acts 17:11, every believer, every spiritual worshiper of Christ has this indisputable fact etched within their mind, as delineated by the spirit of truth, which is that the essence and character of GOD is unassailable and above reproach! We “worship at his footstool; for he is holy!” Psalm 99:5.
And although God’s holy essence eludes our comprehension, we have been mercifully given enough light to know with a certainty that everything GOD does is inherently holy and just! GOD is so indescribably above any limitations that men place upon him, (whether or not they manufacture them in their minds from the misuse of scripture, the ‘gospel’ traditions of men, their own moral code, &c.,) for just “as the heavens are higher than the earth,” Isaiah 55:8, so the ways of the LORD are far above our measly apprehensions of what we think we know, and can only be discerned through his word and through his Christ. “For with thee is the fountain of life, in thy light shall we see light,” Psalm 36:9, as “of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever.” Romans 11:36. With this in mind it becometh us as beings with countless limitations to speak of that ONE whose attributes are veiled in infinity, with the utmost reverence, all unbridled thoughts in complete subjection to his unerring rule.
It goes without saying that Divine design is inherent in everything, expressing the undeniable unity and perfect structure of all which the LORD has fashioned. Psalm 119:73. Nothing is arbitrary! Everything has composition, structure and purpose, as all things are meticulously interwoven together by an infinite range of cause-and-effect scenarios, as the LORD {who in his infinite wisdom has decreed the end, and designed the means} harnesses all these resources, and subordinates all “according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:11.
Interestingly enough, the phrase that God is the “author of sin” is foreign to my gospel vocabulary, and is a term that I’ve personally never used? GOD is GOD and I don’t think he needs anyone to limit him as to what he has wrought or brought forth in the earth, as everything is in accordance with his unified purpose to glorify himself. We have far too diminished views of Christ, of the gospel, and of GOD in general as men nitpick about attempting to exonerate his glory by diminishing his sovereignty in implying that God is not the author of all things, and in some respects establishing himself as the ultimate missionary in attempting to save God from himself! Personally, I’m not too inclined to spend much time pursuing a subject matter that generally ends in unbelief in one form or another, no matter how we try to sugarcoat it.
Realistically, the entire question of whether or not GOD is the AUTHOR of sin is an imprudent one, generally articulated by those who seek to confine or limit the infinite ONE who is outside the realm of all limitations! God is the underlying cause of all things, and nothing exists apart from God. Besides, what basis could possibly exist for a “worm” of the earth, Job 25:6, to examine any of GOD’s actions with such critical scrutiny? “Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?” Romans 9:20. Would GOD who works “all things after the council of his own will,” Ephesians 1:11, ‘permit’ (as is commonly asserted) anything to take place which he did not absolutely will In the first place? Who actually believes this? All things are determined either by fate, predestination or by chance. If by fate then nothing matters! If by chance then everything is left up to us! If by predestination then God is in complete control! If he isn’t, then who is?
If this concept of mere ‘permission’ were true one must question the very nature of a God who most emphatically had the power to prevent Adam’s transgression yet chose not to intervene, somehow ‘permitting’ the introduction of sin and corruption to infiltrate the world which He created, which in its ultimate consummation necessitated the sufferings & death of his only begotten SON. Such a notion seems undeniably blasphemous, though commonly propagated within the confines of those who have in their thoughts decommissioned everything pertaining to sovereignty and sin that does not align with their own ‘moral’ code that God is prohibited to cross. Hopefully the LORD consulted them before he violated their standards of ‘morality’ by destroying the entire world civilization by a flood in Noah’s Day, Genesis 6:13, set ablaze the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, Genesis 19:24, “smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,” Exodus 12:29, massacred the Canaanites under Moses and Joshua, Deuteronomy 20:17, annihilated the Amalekites, I Samuel 15:3, and commanded the prophet Samuel to hew “Agag in pieces.” I Samuel 15:33. Could God be held accountable for any transgression? Against whom can God possibly commit an offense? Is He subject to any law that exists above His own nature or any authority that exists beyond Himself? It is God’s eternal prerogative to act according to His own will! Once again, GOD is GOD and is not in any sense accountable to man in anything, which should settle it in our minds.
It really comes as no surprise when the unbelieving world (all whom the Lord has in derision, Psalm 2:4) scoffs and ridicules a believers confession of absolute sovereignty; but when did the entire ‘christian’ world turn deist in regards to this question of sin and evil, and the hands-off / clock-wound policy that GOD has erected as man puts in motion the affairs of this life? It just isn’t so! The scriptures speak of ONE “who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,” Ephesians 1:11, “in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind,” Job 12:10, who “hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” Psalm 115:3.
But human autonomy bolstered up by the “ye shall be as god” movement recoils from this truth, as men possess an intrinsic aversion (an “inalienable right”) towards the thought of being “controlled” by another, (“we be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man,” John 8:33,) as they subscribe to a theological framework that depicts ALMIGHTY GOD as a mere opportunist, as he finagles his way through life, exploiting the innate wickedness of man to some greater end? The unerring creator and disposer of all things, “that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers,” Colossians 1:16, is not reactatory and knows nothing contingently. The LORD “in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind,” Job 12:10, who by his Spirit garnished the heavens, and “formed the crooked serpent,” Job 26:13, has no dependence whatsoever on external circumstances to bring about his eternal purpose. All things, including the sinful acts of men, are governed and manipulated, (either directly or indirectly,) and ultimately tend to the one great end for which they were created. “All things were created by HIM, and for HIM, and he is before all things, and by HIM all things consist.” Colossians 1:17.
How about those events that GOD meticulously orchestrated in bringing forth CHRIST, in the precise way and manner in which they unfolded? Acts 2:23. One may indeed question how the advent of a Saviour that was “foreordained before the foundation of the world,” I Peter 1:20, could be so entirely predetermined, and everything “fall into place” in the precise manner that it did by “the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will,” Ephesians 1:11, if the occurrence of ‘sin’ is excluded and relegated to chance? How can one ensure anything through chance, given that a solitary random and unforeseen event could potentially dismantle the entire framework?
The same Divine blueprint that assured the coming of Christ as the Redeemer of sinners likewise irrevocably ordained the fall of Adam and the ensuing introduction of sin. If GOD did not decree the existence of sin, (“in the day that thou eatest,” Genesis 2:17, not “if” but “when” thou eatest,) it would not have come into existence, unless we somehow think that sin is greater than God? If Adam “chose” to sin prior to God’s ordination of that sin, then the will of God would be reliant upon and subordinate to the will of man. Perfect, it’s just where “christianity” wants god, who in their atrocious thoughts keep him there, safely confined within their theological borders.
Throughout the old testament ages {otherwise known as our redemption history} could there have been some sin committed or uncommitted in “the generation of Jesus Christ”? Matthew 1:1. Was anything out of place? Could those “wicked hands” that crucified Christ acted any differently? Once again, GOD is GOD, and is under no constraint or limitation to the “forces” that HE has actively engaged to bring about his divine purpose! We read of “an everlasting covenant ordered in all things, and sure,” II Samuel 23:5, of a “Lamb slain,” Revelation 13:8, a “kingdom prepared,” Matthew 25:34, of an elect seed chosen “in Christ,” Ephesians 1:4, of “works” that were “finished,” Hebrews 4:3, of the “hope of eternal life” which God “promised,” Titus 1:2, all either “from” or “before” the foundation of the world, and ultimately of the purpose of ONE that “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Ephesians 1:11. Scripture is consistent through and through! “The LORD GOD omnipotent reigneth.” Revelation 19:6.
Additionally, the fact that our Heavenly Architect, (“our God is in the heavens, he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased,” Psalm 115:3,) is orchestrating all the affairs of this life in such a holy and precise manner in executing His will through the free and uncoerced actions of sinful men actually enhances His glory. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33.
And lest any foolishly imagine that the very few of us who have been persuaded in our simple minds that GOD is GOD could possess any capacity to think lightly of sin, or as “slanderously reported” by some whom say that we entertain a “let us do evil that good may come” mentality of life, Romans 3:8, they know not what they affirm. How can those of us “that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2. These accusations and similar ones by the “many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh,” Galatians 6:12, directed against those of us that believe in unconditional election, free justification, unlimited sovereignty, &c., are ultimately against GOD himself in implying that CHRIST as “that great Shepherd of the sheep,” Hebrews 13:20, is somehow incapable or negligent in the ingathering, shepherding, and preservation of his flock. (“For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.” Ezekiel 34:11.) The “foundation of God standeth sure!” “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,” II Peter 2:9, who in the name of Christ “depart from iniquity,” II Timothy 2:19, being called “unto holiness,” I Thessalonians 4:7, and “newness of life” in Christ. Romans 6:4. How shall we, how can we “that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2. The Lord is their shepherd! Psalm 23:1. The Lord is their keeper! Psalm 121:5. Listen, the LORD reigneth! That settles it, as he is so far above and beyond all this religious whitewash! “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against GOD?” Romans 9:20. MPJ