God created everything good - even Satan. So how did evil come to be?
Talking Points:
- God is the ultimate creator and Lord of everything, and that includes the devil.
- Traditionally, many have believed and taught that Satan is an angel named “Lucifer” – perhaps the highest of all the angels – who led an army of angels in rebellion against God.
- It is unclear from scripture at what point Satan came into the picture. However, Satan had to have existed by Genesis 3 in the form of a serpent. (Revelation 12:9.)
- Satan changed evil from a philosophical possibility into a practical reality, from a creation that could lack perfection into a creation that did lack perfection.
- Evil came about when created beings abused the free will God gave them. He gave humans and angels free will so they would love, but instead, they used it to sin.
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Why do you think people struggle with the “problem of evil?” Is it something you’ve ever struggled with? Explain.
- How do you define evil? Why?
- Do you believe in free will? And what do you mean by it? Why or why not?
- Read Ecclesiastes 4:1. Some people believe that we will always “reap what we sow.” Do you think people always get what they deserve? Explain.
- Read Luke 13:1-5 and John 9:1-3. What is Jesus’s view of the “problem of evil?”
- Read Job 42:10-11. Do you think God is ultimately responsible for good and evil? Explain why or why not.
- Read 1 John 3:20 and 2 Peter 3:8-9. How do these verses inform or change your answer to the previous question?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
