2007-03-23 12:15:34 · 15 answers · asked by ? 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What would be the point of having a world that is devoid of temptation? If there is no Satan then humans would not be subject to his evil influence and therefore the scales would be unjustly favoring goodness over evil. How to test whether a person is really good unless they do not give in to temptation and bad influences as I assume the devil does? If there is no Satan there is no point in "testing" people to see whether they are really good or not. Although I do see your point in asking the question I mean God created Lucifer and he must have put that extra free will in Lucifer that caused him to rebel against God and therefore if God is all knowing he must have known more or less what was going to happen so did God consciously decide to sacrifice Lucifer make him into Satan for the sake of balancing the world he create between good and evil? Furthermore even without Satan humans have inherent goodness and the inherent ability to sin and they do not need Satan's help to sin and commit evil acts since we cannot say that the devil is the cause of all that is bad since we have free will part of the fault for sinning lies with us maybe most of the fault lies with us. I believe just as Adam and Eve sinned and were cast out of heaven and were sent to Earth, Satan was likewise exiled to Earth for his rebellion and if you think about both Satan and Adam and Eve disobeyed God's commands the only difference is Adam and Eve redeemed themselves somewhat in the eyes of god by repenting their sin whereas Satan was stubborn and unrepentant and was thus given dominion over all that opposes God which is sin and evil.
2007-03-23 12:26:20 · answer #1 · answered by Aries 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your observations ignore the proper, formal understanding of the concept of omnipotence.
The philosophical rationale is that a supreme being, God, cannot act in an illogical manner with respect to that being's divine and perfect attributes. Hence, God cannot make a rock so big that He could not move it, nor could God do anything that would be a logical contradiction to His divine nature.
Omnipotence means God can do everything **that is possible** within the boundaries of a supreme being. Omnipotence doesn’t mean that God can do anything. The concept of omnipotence has to do with power, not ability per se. In fact, there are many things God can’t do, for example,
- God can’t make square circles.
- God cannot lie.
- What God has created in His image, God cannot annihilate (to erase from existence, to destroy completely).
- God cannot create a morally free creature that couldn’t choose evil or the creature would not be morally free to choose.
None of these, though, have to do with power. Instead, they are logically contradictory, and therefore contrary to God’s rational nature.
Thus, we see that God created morally free creatures, angels and humans, that chose to sin. God cannot annihilate these creatures. Instead God will extract the penalty for these actions or reward those that heed His call to repentance at the judgment throne.
See also:
"Whatever implies being and nonbeing simultaneously is incompatible with the absolute possibility which falls under divine omnipotence. Such a contradiction is not subject to it, not from any impotence in God, but because it simply does not have the nature of being feasible or possible. Whatever, then, does not involve a contradiction is in the realm of the possible with respect to which God is omnipotent. Whatever involves a contradiction is not within the scope of omnipotence because it cannot qualify for possibility. Better, however, to say that it cannot be done, rather than God cannot do it." (T. Aquinas Summa Theologica p. 163-164 , Volume I, ques. 15 ans. 3)
One needs to have a formal knowledge of philosophy and logic to understand the nature of omnipotence. Just claiming Go is all powerful so he can do anything is nonsensical to the trained person. Here are some references for your further study:
Omnipotence:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/omnipotence/
Omnipresence:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/omnipresence/
The Problem of Evil:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/
Epistemology of Religion:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/religion-epistemology/
Pascal’s Wager:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/
Ontology:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/logic-ontology/
2007-03-23 12:29:05 · answer #2 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He did no longer attempt to wreck the international. He purely did no longer % the the remainder of humanity being born right into a international with genuinely no wish of being righteous for the reason that exceedingly plenty each physique grew to become into evil. If no one had of venture of spiritually progressing and the factor of the Earth grew to become into to create a manner with the help of which shall we spiritually progression, then it would be pointless to have human beings proceed to be born right into a international with 0 possibility of that progression going on. The flood is likewise a representation of the baptism of the Earth, too.
2016-10-20 07:43:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if GOD had destroyed satan the angels would have been afraid and would have beleived the lies satan had told about GOD being unjust and mean .GOD had to show to the world that he is love and that satan was a liar.GOD loved the world so much he gave his only son JESUS as a sacrifice to atone for our sins,so we could be reconciled to GOD so great was his love.GOD had said the wages of sin is death when we sinned GOD already had a plan in place to save us.amen.
2007-03-23 12:27:32 · answer #4 · answered by dixie58 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because God created everything and everyone in Heaven and Earth! He loves them all! Even the guilty! Eventhough He could destroy us all, he shows Everlasting Mercy!
2007-03-23 12:21:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cuss God loved Lucifer, why not throw U into hell when u make a mistake, U ask for forgiveness. But for the devil he won't ask for forgiveness, and he was cursed by God. But eventually he will get there when he serves Gods purpose for us. Kinda like Hes in chains waiting and serving God (Job story)(revelation20:3) till the day of execution(hell)
2007-03-23 12:26:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
serious issues were raised by Satan
(1) the righteousness and rightfulness of Jehovah's sovereignty.
Was Jehovah withholding from mankind freedom that would contribute to their happiness? Were mankind ability to govern their affairs successfully and thier continued life truly dependent on their obedience to God? Had Jehovah been dishonest in giving a law tht stated tht disobedience would lead to their death? (Gen. 2:16,17; 3:3-5) so, did Jehovah really have the right to rule?
(2) The integrity of intelligent creatures toward Jehovah.
By the deflection of Adam and Eve the question was raised: Did Jehovah's servants really obey him out of love or might all of them abandon God and follow the lead being given by Satan? This latter issue was further developed by Satan in the days of Job. (Gen 3:6; Job 1:8-11; 2:3-5; see also Luke 22:31.) These issues could not be settled by merely executiong the rebels.
Not that God needed to prove anything to himself. But so that these issues would never again disrupt the peace and well-being of the universe, Jehovah has allowed ample time for them to be settled beyond all doubt. That Adam and Eve died following disobedience to God became evident in due time. (Gen. 5:5) But more was at issue. So, God has permitted both Satan and humans to try every form of government of thier own making. None have brought lasting happiness. God has let mankind go to the limit in pursuing ways of life that ingnore HIs righteous standards. the fruitage speaks for itself. As the Bible truthfully says: "It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." (Jer. 10:23) At the same time God has given his servants opportunity to prove thier loyalty to hime by tier acts of loving obedience, and this in the face of enticements and persecution instigated by Satan. Jehovah exhorts his servants, saying: "Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me." (Prov. 27:11) Those proving faithful reap great benefits now and have the prospect of eternal life in perfection. They will use such life in doing the will of Jehovah, whose personality and ways they truly love.
2007-03-23 13:51:50 · answer #7 · answered by Vivimos en los Ultimos Dias 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God took pity on "Satan", and changed him into a mortal man. The final Judgment is just about in.
2007-03-23 12:24:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why, why, why? We can speculate all we want, but God doesn't explain all of his actions to us. In fact when Job asks God why, he comes to realize that he can't possibly understand the mind of God. It is outside our range of comprehension.
Still, it may have something to do with our freewill and wanting to give us the opportunity to choose to follow God or go our own way. Without a choice there would be no faith, and "without faith it is impossible to please God."
2007-03-23 12:31:03 · answer #9 · answered by happygirl 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God is the author of life.....He does not kill. Not then.....not today. But there ARE consequences to sin.....there is just one example.
2007-03-23 12:27:23 · answer #10 · answered by beano™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋