Chapter 29—The Origin of Evil
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.
It is impossible to explain the origin of sin so as to give a reason
for its existence. Yet enough may be understood concerning both the
origin and the final disposition of sin to make fully 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 no wise responsible
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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.
Before the entrance of evil there was peace and joy throughout the
universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator’s will. Love for
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