God Did Not Decree All Evil
The question of how God relates to human sin and evil has long challenged theologians and believers alike. Many assume that God, in His sovereignty, must meticulously determine (ordain or decree) every event, including sinful acts. Some even argue that if God foreknows all things, then He must causally or effectually determine evil. But Scripture paints a very different picture: God is holy, good, and wholly opposed to sin, and human moral responsibility is real and meaningful. God’s Nature and the Origin of Sin The Bible consistently affirms that God is not the author of evil. James 1:13–15 states, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin.” Sin originates in human desire, not in God’s actions or decrees. 1 John 1:5 reinforces this truth: “God is Light, and in Him ...