In this podcast, I ask some questions about the concept of “evil” and is there really a force, like Satan, that represents evil in this world? This is something that I feared most of my life – that the “devil” was trying to wrest my soul from the bosom of God, and therefore my actions reflected his success (or lack thereof) at that terrible deed. And I believed that there absolutely, no doubt-about-it was a force called “evil” that roamed this world. Now I have doubts.
I wanted to provide some Biblical context, however, for my thoughts today.
The Bible teaches that evil is a reality in the world, but it is ultimately defeated by the power of God through Jesus Christ.
The Bible also teaches that Satan, also known as the devil, is a real being who is actively working to oppose God and lead people away from righteousness. Satan is described as the “father of lies” and the “ruler of this world” (John 8:44) and is depicted as a powerful enemy of God and humanity. Satan's ultimate goal is to lead people away from God and eternal life with Him.
It teaches that evil is a reality in the world, and that it is the result of humanity's rebellion against God and rejection of His moral laws. In the book of Genesis, we see the first instance of evil when Adam and Eve disobey God by eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This act of disobedience brings sin and death into the world and separates humanity from God's perfect and holy presence.
All of this is what I believed for most of my life, but that has changed.
SOME QUOTES FOR YOUR THINKING:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12 (King James Version)
“For we are not struggling against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, the powers, and the cosmic rulers of this present darkness, and against the spirits of evil in the heavens.” Ephesians 6:12 (New Catholic Bible)
“The Lord is long suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” Numbers 14:18 (King James Version)
“The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the father upon the sons to the third and fourth generation.” – Numbers 14:18 (New Catholic Bible)
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