Identifying evil

[eaglesway]

evil is identified by the context it is used in over 600 verses, not as ANY ONE THING, but may different things and from many different sources. That why simplistic one sided answers always miss the wider truth God is revealing- no matter which side of the argument they are on :o)

[micah7:9]

Okay, me being a simplisticer (is that me labeling me?)  what is, " the wider truth God is revealing- no matter which side of the argument they are on :o)"?

For me anyway, imo, as for context, the Lord God saw that He had a need for evil, and the word evil carries it's context all the way through the Bible. The Bible states  Gen 2:9  and Jehovah God causeth (made) to sprout......the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
For me, HE will use evil for His purpose, and it is for good in the end. Now MAN on the other hand, it is quite evident, will use  evil for no good.
Jer 17:5  Thus said Jehovah: Cursed is the man who doth trust in man, And hath made flesh his arm, And from Jehovah whose heart turneth.

Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
Jer 17:10  I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

[eaglesway]

IMO, the word evil does not carry its context with it through the whole bible- that defies the definition of context. Context is the surrounding within which a word is set, which is why sometimes "olam"  means "world", sometimes it means a few years, sometimes it means "eon" and sometimes it means "forever".

In some places the context places evil in the meaning of calamity or chaos, some places as wickedness or iniquity.

However, I do agree that God will cause evil to work according to His purpose....... No matter how we define it or whatever the context.

"Who causes all things to work according to the counsel of His will".

How does God "cause" evil to work according to His will, but not do evil or tempt anyone with evil? IMO, That's easy. He overcomes evil with good(that's sorta why we were taught to do the same thing)

That's what the cross of Jesus does for the whole creation, until God is all in all- and I know we agree on that :o)

[ded2daworld]

Yes God created IMO, the rebellious angels (or the angels he foreknew would rebel and uses them to achieve his own ends.
They are incapable of stepping over the boundary line of God's will and/or permission.
There's that nasty free will stuff again.
Do angels have free will? If they do, is it more freedom or less freedom than the free will of man?

[eaglesway]

We are all free to do anything God doesn't stop us from doing :o)

[ded2daworld]

But what about angels? Same thing? Using "we" wasn't clear if angels were included. I'm no angel - only a saint :Peace2:

[eaglesway]

HAHA, Well of course it is only my opinion, not bein no angel neither ;o), But yeah, I think the angels are also allowed to do whatever God doesnt stop them from doing---but the angels that did not rebel(if you believe that, I do) are like breathes of God, they hover about Him awaiting impulses from His heart and mind and do them because they love Him and obey His commands- and thats what we are growing into ourselves. "I only do those things that I hear from my Father"...... to me, was not about a moment to moment, second by second command structure- but rather moving in union with the "ways of the Lord" and the "Spirit of the Lord".

"The wind blows where it wills, and yoy hear the sound of it but you don't know where it is coming from or where it is going.....so it is with EVERYONE who is born of the Spirit.

This is the master Himself explaining how walking in the Spirit works, for anyone who has ears to hear.

Did Jesus turn the water into wine because His Father told Him to, or because His mother told Him to, or because His mother asked Him to and the He asked His Father and His Father said, "Do It Now" or because He felt the wind blow in that direction and flowed with it? I don't kno HEHEH, WHO DOES?

[ded2daworld]

I thought it was because Jesus did what he saw his Father doing
taking the drab and plain(water) and making it fresh, new, tasty, and desireable.(wine)
Water is a necessity, wine is a pleasure. (I don't drink at all by the way) I'm using these as symbols
of the new life.

[Molly]

Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine.

His last miracle was turning wine into blood.


For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  Mat 26:28

[ded2daworld]

Good one Molly! :thumbsup:

[dajomaco]

But the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come.[a] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), 12 He entered the most holy place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?

[ded2daworld]

Amen Daj. :thumbsup: