THE CAUSES OF SIN

 

By Gary Ray Branscome

 

While Satan is the primary cause of sin in the world, the words, “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed,” tell us that the efficient cause of sin is man’s own corrupt will and sinful heart (James 1:14).

          The words, “God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good,” tell us that God did not create sin, nor was it part of His original creation (Genesis 1:31), while the words, “Sin entered the world by one man, and death by sin,” tell us that sin entered the world through the sin of Adam (Romans 5:12). Furthermore, the fact that man was created without a sinful nature tells us that God did not create man with an inclination to sin. On the contrary, as originally created Adam and Eve had no desire to sin. It was because they would not even think of lying to someone that they did not question what the serpent said (Genesis 3:4-5).

 

          The words, “In all this Job did not sin, or accuse God foolishly,” tell us that those who blame God for the sin in the world, or for their own troubles are foolish (Job 1:22). And, the words, “Do not let anyone say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does He tempt anyone,” tell us that those who excuse sin by claiming that God is tempting them are deluding themselves (James 1:13). The words, “So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes,” tell us that God did not allow trouble to come upon Job to tempt him, but to humble him, and cure his self righteousness, so that he would not loose his salvation (Job 32:1). As it is written, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before His glorious presence with great joy, To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever” (Jude 24-25).

          The words, “For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness: nor will evil dwell with you. The foolish will not stand in your sight, you hate all who do evil,” tell us that God never approves of wickedness, or of those who do evil (Psalm 5:4-5). Those who condemn God for allowing wickedness to continue, foolishly assume that if God eliminated all evildoers they would be the exception, and that is just another form of self-righteousness. Most of the suffering in the world is caused by men, and the suffering caused by storms etc. is in the world because of sin. So for God to eliminate sin, He would have to judge the world, and destroy it. And, that will come to pass. However, the words, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance; God now commands all men every where to repent,” tell us that God has not eliminated sin because He is giving us a chance to repent (Acts 17:30).