These are some of your questions we have received via our email address at thatsinthebible@gmail.com.
Is God Fair?
I was recently asked by someone who said, "Is it fair for God to give mankind free will and then to send him to hell for using his free will to reject God?" Do you have by chance a good biblical response to this? Also my other question is this, the same person asked me why would god create people who he know would reject him and then ultimately that they would end up in hell?
Answer:
Thank you for your questions, which really are the same question just worded differently.
To boil it down into a nutshell, this person is deflecting the blame and responsibility of their self-willed choices onto another, (in this case God), so that they can feel justified for living the way they want to live instead of living as they should according to the bible.
These questions are not new, in the bible we see that people have asked the same thing.
Romans 9:20 (KJV) Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Without a free will we would be nothing more than robots doing what we are programed to do. And I can tell you if there was awareness as robotic humans they would complain and make the same accusation “why did you make me this way? I want the ability to decide for myself. But God wanted a being, when faced with a choice, would choose him, to love him. To reciprocate the love he had for his own creation.
John 3:16-21 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Men don’t like to be told their choices are wrong, and that there are consequences for wrong choices.
James 1:14-15 (KJV) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Proverbs chapter 1 gives God’s point of view on the matter. It is not a popular view especially in today’s culture, but it is bible and the truth.
God did create us for his pleasure (Revelation 4:11), and as the Creator, he sets the rules. God could have set the rules and if you break it to bad, but he made a way, that though we have sinned, we can still have fellowship with him, through Jesus Christ and his saving grace, it is his choice. Unfortunately men love darkness rather than light, and they reap the consequences.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV) I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Question 2:
Did God always know that Luicifer would betray/rebel Him?
Answer:
A) God Knows The End From The Beginning
Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV
[9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, [10] 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:
B) His Understanding Is Infinite
Psalm 147:5 KJV
[5] Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
C) God Knows All Things
1 John 3:20 KJV
[20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
D) God Knows Everything Before It Happens.
Because of His foreknowledge.
Acts 2:23 KJV
[23] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
So the answer is yes, God knew that Satan would fall.
But then you might ask, “Why would God create Satan if he knew he would fall?”
First, we need to remember that God created Satan perfect;
Ezekiel 28:14-19 talks about Satan when he was created and was “the anointed cherub….” verse 14, who was created by God perfect, “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” verse 15.
Second, we need to know that it wasn’t God’s fault Satan rebelled and sinned, it was Satan’s pride. He desired to be like God and overthrow Him. See Isaiah 14:12-17.
So yes, God knew Satan would sin, but God created Satan with a free will to either love God or not. Just as God creates mankind with a free will. Any being who isn’t created with a free will is more like a mindless robot who cannot show love willingly.
John 14:15,21 KJV
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments. [21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Question 3:
What is your take on the difference in the telling of the "Maniac of Gadera" from Matthew to the other gospels (there being 2 men being possessed vs 1)?
Answer:
There are two mentioned in Matthew 8:28,29 and only one mentioned in Mark 5:1-19. When Matthew wrote his account he looked at both maniacs, when Mark wrote his account he focused in on only one of the maniacs, even though both were present. As you read through all four Gospel accounts you will notice that some writers give more detailed information of the same events than others.
Question 4:
Thank you so much for the wonderful podcast! I have learned so much from listening to the episodes. While listening to episode 105 about God’s limits I had a question. Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden with Adam and Eve in the first place? Couldn’t He have made it impossible for Adam and Eve to disobey Him in the garden?
Answer:
Thank you so much for listening to our Podcast. We sincerely hope that you are edified and blessed by it. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you find our Podcast? I find it very interesting to hear the testimonies of our listeners on how they happen to find us.
Now to get to your questions: “Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden with Adam and Eve in the first place? Couldn’t he have made it impossible for Adam and Eve to disobey him in the Garden?” This is a good question as it goes to the character of God. Let me answer it this way. The test of obedience and trust is not by mandatary compliance or conformity, but rather by trial. In order for the Lord to know whether Adam and Eve would obey and trust what he said he presented a choice.
1Pe 1:6-9 (KJV) Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Those who have children and love them want the reciprocation of love and obedience returned voluntarily, not forced to comply. We want the free will choice to love and obey us, rather than the programed response of a robot. I don’t believe God is any different. God has given his creation “man” free will to choose whom they will obey.
Ex 19:5 (KJV)
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: This is the Lord speaking to Moses to tell the Nation of Israel.
And as is the case in any choice, there are consequences for those choices.
Jer 12:17 (KJV) But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
Also consider this well know passage from the New Testament.
Ga 6:7-8 (KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
The consequences for negative and positive choices are evident in these verses.
Even in our poor choices God makes a way for redemption and restored fellowship. He did this through the sacrifice of God’s Son on the Cross, his amazing grace being extended to all who will choose and trust Jesus Christ as their Savior, forgiving their sin and giving them eternal life. To the Child of God who chooses poorly there is restoration as well.
1Jo 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What a wonderful Father and Savior we have who can, even with our poor choices, still love us and make a way for us.
Question 5:
What should you do if you feel like God isn’t listening or answering you when you pray?
Answer:
I believe everyone goes through this at some point in their Christian life. I can’t say for sure what the reasons may be in yours, or any others persons life as to why there seems to be a drought in their prayer life. But let me give some possibilities.
The widow and the unjust judge for example, the Lord indicated that we need to be persistent in prayer. Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Could be that the answer is delayed as was the case for Daniel, when unbeknownst to him, unseen spiritual forces were battling against each other and held up the answer for 21 days, this is found in Dan 10.
I preached a message a few years back on the Hindrances to Prayer. Don’t be surprised if that message shows up on a future podcast, but here are the points of the outline of the message. Some may apply others may not, but I hope this is helpful.
We don’t get answers to prayer—
We don’t pray James 4:2
We ask amiss James 4:3
An unforgiving spirit Matthew 6:12, 14,15
Known sin in the heart Psalms 66:18
A double mind James 1:7,8
Not giving honor to the wife I Peter:3:6,7
Praying in your own will Luke 22:40-42
Not Thankful Colossians 4:2
Not a Child of God Proverbs 1:20-31
I would suggest to someone who is struggling with this problem, to ask the Lord to identify the problem to them. Then be honest and sensitive to the Lord’s prompting with that still small voice inside, then deal directly with the issue. I have found that praying to the Lord is like talking with my best friend, with honor and respect to whom he is.
I hope these answers have been helpful. I pray that your relationship with the Lord will grow deeper and stronger.
Thanks again for listening we really appreciate it.
God Bless, Pastor Steve