The Nature of Evil:

The Bible reveals that evil is not merely a corruption of good but the result of the Devil’s relentless opposition to humanity. God created human beings perfect and endowed them with free will. However, the misuse of this gift by our first parents led to sin and rebellion against God. In our previous study, we explored the rebellion of Lucifer, also known as Satan—a created being who chose to defy God’s authority and sought to lead Adam and Eve into his rebellion.

• Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
  ² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
  ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
  ⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
  ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
  ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate (NKJV).[1]

 The fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden described in Genesis 3 illustrates the devastating consequences of choosing evil. Adam and Eve’s disobedience introduced sin and suffering into the world, impacting all of creation. This wasn’t a flaw in God’s design, but a consequence of a deliberate choice.

• Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” Paul establishes a foundational theological concept: the universality of sin and death as a consequence of Adam’s transgression.

1. Sin Entered the World Through One Man

Paul traces the origin of sin back to Adam. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given a command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). However, through their disobedience (Genesis 3), sin entered the world.

• Sin was not originally part of God’s perfect creation; it was introduced through Adam’s choice.

• Adam, as the representative of humanity, brought sin into human existence.

2. Death Entered Through Sin

The result of Adam’s sin was death—both physical and spiritual.

• Spiritual death: Adam and Eve immediately experienced separation from God, “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ ” (Genesis 3:8-10).

• Physical death: The process of decay and mortality entered the human condition, “For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19).

• Paul confirms in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.”

3. Death Spread to All Men Because All Sinned

Paul moves from Adam’s individual sin to its consequences for all of humanity.

• Every human being is born into a fallen world, inheriting a sinful nature from Adam, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5).

• All human beings personally sin, confirming their participation in this fallen condition, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

• Death is the evidence that all people are affected by sin’s corruption.

4. The Federal Headship of Adam

Paul’s reasoning is rooted in the concept of federal headship, meaning Adam acted as a representative for all humanity.

• Just as a king’s decision affects his entire kingdom, Adam’s sin had consequences for all his descendants.

• Paul contrasts Adam with Jesus in Romans 5:15-17 “But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if many died because of the transgression of one man, how much more did the grace of God overflow to many through the gift of one Man—Yeshua the Messiah. Moreover, the gift is not like what happened through the one who sinned. For on the one hand, the judgment from one violation resulted in condemnation; but on the other hand, the gracious gift following many transgressions resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s transgression, death reigned through the one, how much more shall those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Messiah Yeshua. If Adam’s disobedience led to death, Yeshua’s obedience leads to life.

5. The Hope in the Messiah

While Adam brought sin and death, Jesus the Messiah brings righteousness and life, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:18-19).

• Where Adam’s act resulted in condemnation, Jesus’ act of obedience (His sacrifice) results in justification.

• Through faith in Jesus, humanity has the opportunity to be freed from the power of sin and death “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Mashiach all shall be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

First part Conclusion

Paul’s argument in Romans 5:12 shows the devastating impact of sin but also sets the stage for understanding redemption in Jesus. Sin and death entered through Adam, but grace and life come through Jesus. This passage highlights the seriousness of sin, the justice of God, and the incredible mercy available through the Messiah.

God’s Attributes and the Problem of Evil:

The existence of evil seems to contradict certain attributes of God:

1. Omnipotence (All-Powerful) – Why Doesn’t God Prevent Evil?

If God is all-powerful, why does He allow evil to exist?

• God’s Power is Absolute but Purposeful:

The Bible affirms that God is almighty “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” (Job 42:2); “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” (Jeremiah 32:17). He has the power to prevent evil, yet He allows it for a greater purpose.

• The Role of Free Will:

True love and genuine moral choices require freedom. If God removed all evil by overriding human decisions, He would also remove free will, making humans mere automatons.

• A World Without Evil vs. a World With Free Will:

A world without the possibility of evil would also be a world without the ability to choose righteousness. God desires love and obedience that come from willing hearts, not coercion, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

• God’s Sovereignty Over Evil:

Although God allows evil for a time, He ultimately uses it to fulfill His greater purposes “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20); “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). His plan includes the eventual eradication of evil, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).

Thus, God’s omnipotence is not diminished by the presence of evil, but rather, He permits it temporarily to uphold human freedom and bring about a greater redemptive purpose.

2. Omniscience (All-Knowing) – Why Does God Allow Evil If He Knows It Will Happen?

If God knows everything, including future evil actions, why doesn’t He prevent them?

• Foreknowledge is Not Causation:

God’s omniscience means He knows all things, past, present, and future (Isaiah 46:9-10). However, His knowledge of an event does not mean He causes it.

• Allowing Free Will with Full Knowledge of Its Consequences:

God, in His wisdom, allows humans to exercise free will even though He knows some will choose evil. This is because His ultimate purpose is not to create robots but beings capable of love, righteousness, and teshuva (repentance).

• God’s Plan Includes Redemption:

Even though He foreknew humanity’s fall, God already had a plan for salvation through Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-5; Revelation 13:8).

• A Higher Wisdom at Work:

Just as a parent may allow a child to make mistakes to learn from them, God permits choices that lead to suffering because He knows that through these experiences, humanity can grow spiritually and seek Him (Acts 17:26-27).

Thus, God’s omniscience does not mean He must prevent evil but that He governs history with full knowledge, ensuring His ultimate plan for good prevails.

3. Love – How Can a Loving God Permit Evil?

If God is love (1 John 4:8), why does He allow suffering and evil in the world?

• True Love Requires Free Will:

Love that is forced is not real love. By allowing free will, God permits the possibility of evil but also makes genuine love and righteousness possible.

• God’s Love is Not Passive:

He does not stand by idly while evil happens. He actively engages with His creation, calling people to teshuva (repentance), comforting the suffering, and ultimately providing salvation through Jesus (John 3:16).

• The Greatest Expression of Love – Messiah’s Sacrifice:

Rather than leaving humanity to suffer the consequences of sin, God took action. Jesus’ death on the cross demonstrates God’s justice and mercy, providing a way to overcome evil and restore relationship with Him (Romans 5:8).

• God’s Love Brings Ultimate Justice:

While evil exists now, it is temporary. God promises to judge the wicked and restore righteousness in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:4).

Thus, God’s love is not diminished by the existence of evil but rather proven through His patience, sacrifice, and ultimate victory over sin and suffering.

Second part Conclusion:

God’s Attributes and the Problem of Evil

The presence of evil does not contradict God’s attributes but rather highlights His patience, justice, and greater plan for redemption. While He allows evil for a time, He has also provided the solution: the victory of Jesus. Through His power, wisdom, and love, He is working toward the ultimate restoration of His creation, where evil and suffering will be no more.

The Role of Free Will:

The Role of Free Will in God’s Creation

The concept of free will is central to understanding both the existence of evil and the nature of God’s relationship with humanity. In the Bible, it is clear that God, in His infinite wisdom, created human beings with the capacity to make choices, to love, and to have a genuine relationship with Him. This ability to choose is not a random or accidental aspect of humanity’s design; rather, it is intrinsic to the very nature of what it means to be created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).

The Gift of Free Will: A Divine Purpose

God’s decision to create human beings with free will reflects His desire for a deep, personal relationship with us. Love, in its truest form, cannot be coerced. A love that is forced, or a relationship that is dictated by divine compulsion, would be hollow and meaningless. Instead, God chose to give humans the ability to freely choose to love Him, serve Him, and honor Him.

In the Garden of Eden, God placed Adam and Eve in an environment of perfect harmony, but with one command: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:16-17). The very presence of a choice, the opportunity to either obey or disobey God, reflects God’s intention for free will to be a fundamental aspect of humanity’s existence. The presence of this choice was necessary for their ability to demonstrate genuine love and trust in their Creator.

Free Will and the Possibility of Evil

While free will is a divine gift, it also comes with the possibility of misuse. The Bible does not shy away from the reality that the freedom to choose means that humanity can also choose evil. The story of the fall of humanity (Genesis 3) highlights the tragic consequences of misusing free will. Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil opened the door for sin, suffering, and death to enter the world.

It is important to note, however, that the existence of evil is not a reflection of God’s imperfection or failure. Rather, it is a direct result of human beings exercising their free will in a way that goes against God’s perfect will. God, in His wisdom, allows the possibility of evil because He values genuine relationship and true love, which can only exist when humans are given the freedom to choose their actions.

Free Will and the Nature of True Love

Love, in its truest sense, must come from a place of freedom. If Adam and Eve had been created without the ability to choose, their love for God would have been mechanical or robotic, devoid of true sincerity. Likewise, our love for God today is meaningful because we have the freedom to choose whether to love Him, whether to follow His commandments, and whether to embrace His will.

Jesus affirms the importance of free will in His command to love God: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Genuine love requires our hearts and minds to be engaged willingly, not out of compulsion. It is a conscious choice to love God and serve Him.

The Risk of Free Will: The Potential for Evil

However, this freedom also carries the risk of choosing evil. Without the freedom to choose good, there can be no true moral agency, no opportunity for humans to demonstrate virtue, righteousness, or holiness. It is this very freedom that makes humanity capable of rejecting God and turning toward sin.

In the Hebrew Bible, we see a repeated pattern of Israel choosing to turn away from God despite His covenant love and faithfulness. Yet, throughout the Bible, God still extends His invitation to return, demonstrating that He values our freedom to choose and desires that we freely choose to love Him and follow His ways.

Free Will and the Possibility of Redemption

Even though free will opened the door for sin, God’s redemptive plan demonstrates how He works within the boundaries of free will to bring about salvation. In the New Testament, Jesus the Messiah offers forgiveness and reconciliation with God, making a way for humanity to choose redemption. While free will allows individuals to reject Messiah and persist in sin, it also provides the opportunity for teshuva (repentance), faith, and new life in Him (John 3:16).

The apostle Paul writes about the transformative power of free will in choosing Yeshua: “For freedom, Messiah has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Through Jesus’s sacrifice, humans have the opportunity to exercise their free will in the direction of righteousness and salvation, demonstrating the possibility of a restored relationship with God.

Free Will as an Ongoing Invitation

The Bible presents free will as an ongoing invitation to respond to God’s love. God’s call to humanity is never coercive; rather, He patiently waits for people to choose to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9). This reflects the nature of God’s love, which does not force but invites.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The choice to invite Jesus into one’s life is a decision made freely, and the reward is an intimate, loving relationship with God.

Conclusion: Free Will and the Ultimate Purpose of Life

In conclusion, the role of free will in God’s design is foundational to understanding why evil exists and how we relate to God. It is a gift that allows us to love genuinely, to choose righteousness, and to seek God’s will. While the misuse of free will has led to sin and suffering, God’s plan of redemption offers us the choice to be reconciled to Him through Jesus. Free will, then, is not just a gift but a responsibility—one that invites us into a deeper, meaningful relationship with God. Through our choices, we can participate in God’s redemptive work and, in the end, be part of His eternal kingdom where love and freedom will reign forever.

The Plan of Redemption:

The Plan of Redemption: God’s Solution to the Problem of Evil

The existence of evil and the suffering that accompanies it is a significant challenge for humanity. However, the Bible presents a clear and powerful answer: God’s plan of redemption through Jesus. This divine plan is the means by which God addresses the problem of evil, offering a way for humanity to be reconciled to Him despite our sin and rebellion. Redemption is not just about the forgiveness of sins; it is about the restoration of the relationship between God and His creation, and the eventual eradication of evil itself.

1. Redemption Through Messiah’s Sacrifice

At the heart of God’s plan of redemption is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. In His death, Jesus bore the weight of human sin and the consequences of evil, providing the only true way for humanity to be reconciled with God. This sacrificial act is both an expression of God’s justice and His love. God’s justice demands that sin be dealt with, but His love provides the way of salvation through the sacrifice of His Son.

Romans 5:8 encapsulates this profound mystery: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.” Jesus’ death was not just a tragic event but the ultimate act of love that addressed the penalty for sin and provided a pathway for redemption. The cross becomes the central point of history, where God’s justice and mercy meet, and through which the power of evil is ultimately overcome.

2. Isaiah 53: The Suffering Servant and the Ultimate Act of Love

The prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is one of the most powerful predictions of the coming Messiah’s redemptive work. This chapter describes a figure who would bear the sins of the world, suffering in silence for the transgressions of others. Isaiah writes:

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).  This passage speaks prophetically about Jesus the Messiah, who, though innocent, would suffer the punishment that humanity deserved. He would be rejected, wounded, and crushed for our sins. This was not a random act of cruelty, but rather, it was the fulfillment of God’s plan to reconcile humanity to Himself. The suffering servant’s role was not just to suffer, but to take upon Himself the weight of evil and sin, offering His life as a ransom for many. In this, we see the depth of God’s love and His commitment to dealing with the problem of evil in a way that also preserves His justice.

The fulfillment of this prophecy is found in the person of Jesus, who willingly embraced the cross to bring about salvation. Through His suffering, He made it possible for us to receive forgiveness, freedom, and the promise of eternal life.

3. Revelation 21:4 – The Hope of the Final Victory Over Evil

While the world is still filled with evil and suffering, the Bible offers a future hope for believers—one that is secure and certain. Revelation 21:4 presents a beautiful vision of the future when God will put an end to all suffering, evil, and death:

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

This passage offers the ultimate triumph of good over evil. God’s plan of redemption not only addresses the problem of sin and evil in the present, but it also promises that one day, there will be a new heaven and a new earth where evil has been completely eradicated. In this eternal state, there will be no more death, no more pain, no more evil. God’s redemption is not just about spiritual restoration but also the complete renewal of creation. Evil and suffering will be no more, and God’s people will experience perfect communion with Him.

This promise in Revelation points to the consummation of God’s plan of redemption, where all things will be made new. The full restoration of humanity and creation, free from the curse of sin and the presence of evil, is the final victory that God guarantees through the sacrifice of Jesus.

4. God’s Love, Justice, and Mercy in Redemption

God’s plan of redemption demonstrates the perfect harmony of His attributes—love, justice, and mercy. The cross of Jesus is the supreme demonstration of God’s love. While humanity was still trapped in sin and under the power of evil, God did not abandon us but sent His Son to die for us, offering unconditional love that is available to all who believe.

At the same time, God’s justice is satisfied in the atoning death of Jesus. Sin is a serious offense against a holy God, and justice demands a penalty. Jesus bore that penalty on behalf of humanity, offering His own life as the payment for our sins. His death upholds God’s justice, ensuring that evil and sin are not ignored, but that there is a way for guilty sinners to be forgiven.

Finally, God’s mercy is evident in His willingness to forgive and restore sinners, not because they deserve it, but because of His grace. Through Jesus, God offers forgiveness and salvation to all who believe, giving them a new life and a future hope in His eternal kingdom.

General Conclusion: A Complete Solution to the Problem of Evil

In conclusion, the existence of evil does not have the final word. God’s plan of redemption, through the sacrifice of Jesus, offers the ultimate solution to the problem of evil. Jesus’ death atones for sin, and His resurrection offers the hope of new life. Through His sacrifice, God’s love, justice, and mercy come together to offer humanity a path to salvation and restoration. While evil still exists in the world today, God’s promise for a future without evil and suffering remains certain, and it is through Jesus that this hope becomes a reality for all who believe.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you understand of free will address the problem of evil?
2. How does God’s love reconcile with the existence of suffering?
3. What role does the plan of redemption play in overcoming evil?
4. How does the concept of the Great Controversy help us understand the problem of evil?
5. How can we personally respond to the presence of evil in the world?

---

[1] It is not our intention to study this passage in detail here. We invite anyone who wishes to explore these verses more deeply to obtain the first volume of our Torah commentary: Genesis.

Dr. Richard Elofer, D.I.S.
(Fuller Seminary, School of Intercultural Studies)
Pastor, Hebrew Professor, Writer