Does God 'Author' Sin?

[Danny1988]

The term authors is almost universally condemned in the theological literature. It is rarely defined, but it seems to mean both that God is the efficient cause of evil and that by causing evil he actually does something wrong.
So the [Westminster Confession] says that God “neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin”.

Despite this denial in a major Reformed confession, Arminians regularly charge that Reformed theology makes God the author of sin.
They assume that if God brings about evil in any sense, he must therefore approve it and deserve the blame. In their view, nothing less than libertarian freedom will serve to absolve God from the charge of authoring sin.

Libertarian freedom is incoherent and unbiblical. God does bring about sinful human actions. To deny this, or to charge God with wickedness on account of it, is not open to a Bible-believing Christian.

Somehow, we must confess both that God has a role in bringing evil about, and that in doing so he is holy and blameless. . . . God does bring sins about, but always for his own good purposes.

So in bringing sin to pass he does not himself commit sin. If that argument is sound, then a Reformed doctrine of the sovereignty of God does not imply that God is the author of sin.

Which is position is Biblical, the Reformed or Arminianinsm

 

[OneFaith]

The term authors is almost universally condemned in the theological literature. It is rarely defined, but it seems to mean both that God is the efficient cause of evil and that by causing evil he actually does something wrong.
So the [Westminster Confession] says that God “neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin”.

Despite this denial in a major Reformed confession, Arminians regularly charge that Reformed theology makes God the author of sin.
They assume that if God brings about evil in any sense, he must therefore approve it and deserve the blame. In their view, nothing less than libertarian freedom will serve to absolve God from the charge of authoring sin.

Libertarian freedom is incoherent and unbiblical. God does bring about sinful human actions. To deny this, or to charge God with wickedness on account of it, is not open to a Bible-believing Christian.

Somehow, we must confess both that God has a role in bringing evil about, and that in doing so he is holy and blameless. . . . God does bring sins about, but always for his own good purposes.

So in bringing sin to pass he does not himself commit sin. If that argument is sound, then a Reformed doctrine of the sovereignty of God does not imply that God is the author of sin.

Which is position is Biblical, the Reformed or Arminianinsm

They need to go back to the drawing board. God does not sin, nor does He tempt us to sin. Just because their minds can't understand God's mind doesn’t mean they can label Him with any conclusion they conjure up.

"Let every man be a liar and God be right."

 

[Danny1988]

They need to go back to the drawing board. God does not sin, nor does He tempt us to sin. Just because their minds can't understand God's mind doesn’t mean they can label Him with any conclusion they conjure up.

"Let every man be a liar and God be right."

The Westminster Confession never said God caused sin or approved it. That's what the Armininans accsued us of believing but that was never implied or suggested in the confession. It was an attack on our Biblical understanding and position, we believe God is sovereign over all things so that means He created everything including the possibility to sin.

Just because He allows sin to be committed doesn't mean He forced anyone to sin, but sin does glorify His Son because it demonstrates His power over sin and it shows Gods love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Nobody can ever get into the mind of God, He's ways are too high above ours so we are commanded to trust and obey. Not question and accuse Him of being unfair or even evil as some here have.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Calvinism says that God wills for men to disobey and for other elect few to obey Him. That is the author of sin right there.

 

[Deade]

Which is position is Biblical, the Reformed or Arminianinsm

Well first you need to define sin. What is it? It is whatever God calls sin. He defines it. He does not do it, but He must allow it. If God is truly sovereign, we can't do anything save He allow us. All He has to do is back off and Satan is faithful to do his worst.

David always acknowledged that it was God's hand on him when evil revealed itself.

Psalms 39:6-9 "Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it."

So what do we conclude: God does not sin but He allows it. You can apply that and decide which of these old Christian dogmas pertain.

 

[dcontroversal]

God's permissive will allows men to chose, hence sin.....God is not the root and cause of sin end of story!

 

[Jewel5712]

The term authors is almost universally condemned in the theological literature. It is rarely defined, but it seems to mean both that God is the efficient cause of evil and that by causing evil he actually does something wrong.
So the [Westminster Confession] says that God “neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin”.

Despite this denial in a major Reformed confession, Arminians regularly charge that Reformed theology makes God the author of sin.
They assume that if God brings about evil in any sense, he must therefore approve it and deserve the blame. In their view, nothing less than libertarian freedom will serve to absolve God from the charge of authoring sin.

Libertarian freedom is incoherent and unbiblical. God does bring about sinful human actions. To deny this, or to charge God with wickedness on account of it, is not open to a Bible-believing Christian.

Somehow, we must confess both that God has a role in bringing evil about, and that in doing so he is holy and blameless. . . . God does bring sins about, but always for his own good purposes.

So in bringing sin to pass he does not himself commit sin. If that argument is sound, then a Reformed doctrine of the sovereignty of God does not imply that God is the author of sin.

Which is position is Biblical, the Reformed or Arminianinsm

Dont believe God is the "author" of sin sin he cant even look at it (hence looking away from Jesus on the cross whe Jesus took on the sin of the world) He allows us to have free will but doesnt like when we sin because it causes heartache ..death .etc...We ARE born with a sinful nature but because of Jesus love and death of the cross..He has provided us a way of restoring us back to God our maker...simething that was lost when Adam and Eve sinned. God also FORGIVES us of our sin....Sin causes seperation from God because He can have no part of it.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Just because He allows sin to be committed doesn't mean He forced anyone to sin

I agree with this statement.

We sin and then we lay the responsibility for our sin at the feet of the Father ... just like Adam tried to do when he sinned.

Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

"God, You gave me the woman and she gave me of the tree, and I did eat".

We haven't changed much since the days of Adam. You'd think we'd learn ...

 

[Danny1988]

Dont believe God is the "author" of sin sin he cant even look at it (hence looking away from Jesus on the cross whe Jesus took on the sin of the world) He allows us to have free will but doesnt like when we sin because it causes heartache ..death .etc...We ARE born with a sinful nature but because of Jesus love and death of the cross..He has provided us a way of restoring us back to God our maker...simething that was lost when Adam and Eve sinned. God also FORGIVES us of our sin....Sin causes seperation from God because He can have no part of it.

I agree with everything you said, but there's still an element of mystery about why God created us with the potential to sin.

The Bible tells us that God is sovereign over all things and nothing happens unless He allows it or predetermines it.

The best I can come up with is, God created sin and evil to demonstrate His power, justice and righteousness. It's hard for us to fully grasp this concept, because God works on an infinitely higher plain then we do so we can't comprehend all of His ways.
The Bible teaches us to trust and obey, it doesn't teach us to examine and catalog every attribute of God

 

[MattforJesus]

Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.

1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

God cannot sin, and He does not tempt any person to sin.

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

God said He creates evil, but this did not come from God directly, for He created everything good.

Eze 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Lucifer was created perfect in his ways, and innocent until iniquity was found in him by his own doing.

Ecc 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Adam and Eve was made innocent until they sinned.

All God made was good, and the angels, and Adam and Eve, good, but Lucifer sinned and evil started, and Adam and Eve sinned and evil started with people.

God said He creates evil, but it does not mean He did it directly, but the fallen angels sinned, and Adam and Eve sinned, so the sin that goes on could of not happened if God did not create them.

So their sin is not of God but a result of God creating them, but God created all things good.

 

[Miri]

If anything it’s Satan and mankind that is the author of evil.

God never wanted Adam and Eve to have knowledge of good and
evil. He knew they could not handle it but He also didn’t want
robots with no will of their own.

Then there is Satan who fell too he also choose evil and unlike us, there
is no hope for him.

Remember these verses. Be wary of attributing evil to God, the Pharisees
tried that too. He who is not with me is against me.

Matthew 12:22-30 NKJV
[22] Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind
and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both
spoke and saw. [23] And all the multitudes were amazed and
said, "Could this be the Son of David?" [24] Now when the Pharisees
heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by
Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

[25] But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house
divided against itself will not stand. [26] If Satan casts out Satan, he
is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

[27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons
cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. [28] But if I cast out
demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon
you. [29] Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his
goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder
his house. [30] He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does
not gather with Me scatters abroad.

 

[so-jesus-e-deus]

No!!!

• "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death." (Jas 1.13-15).

 

[theanointedsinner]

I don't think there's anything wrong with the tree

only the option for Adam and Eve to disobey God, Adam and Eve choose that available option to sin, and sin entered the world

 

[CS1]

The term authors is almost universally condemned in the theological literature. It is rarely defined, but it seems to mean both that God is the efficient cause of evil and that by causing evil he actually does something wrong.
So the [Westminster Confession] says that God “neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin”.

Despite this denial in a major Reformed confession, Arminians regularly charge that Reformed theology makes God the author of sin.
They assume that if God brings about evil in any sense, he must therefore approve it and deserve the blame. In their view, nothing less than libertarian freedom will serve to absolve God from the charge of authoring sin.

Libertarian freedom is incoherent and unbiblical. God does bring about sinful human actions. To deny this, or to charge God with wickedness on account of it, is not open to a Bible-believing Christian.

Somehow, we must confess both that God has a role in bringing evil about, and that in doing so he is holy and blameless. . . . God does bring sins about, but always for his own good purposes.

So in bringing sin to pass he does not himself commit sin. If that argument is sound, then a Reformed doctrine of the sovereignty of God does not imply that God is the author of sin.

Which is position is Biblical, the Reformed or Arminianinsm

the divine nature of God as given in the word of God trumps both reformed & arminianins.
God is holy = set a part without Sin . He does not sin nor is the creator of it. Sin is missing the mark and God don't miss ever.