God and sin and sovereignty

[steven-nemes]

1. It is true that God willed that I commit sin S1 at time T?
2. If so, in what way does he bring about that sin?

 

[ClayPot]

What do you mean by willed? That is very important when answering this question.

If you mean manipulated in a way to cause you to sin then the answer is most definitely no. God never causes someone to someone.

If you mean sovereignly ordained so that you certainly commit that sin at that specific time, then the answer is yes. He works everything according to the counsel of his will. Eph 1:11.

There are also many other situations where it is clear that God ordained sin to surely happen without being the author, culpable, or responsible for the sin. The best example of this is the murder of Christ. See Acts 4:27-28. Other examples abound

 

[toddpedlar]

1. It is true that God willed that I commit sin S1 at time T?
2. If so, in what way does he bring about that sin?

This has been discussed many a time here at the PB, but here are the quick answers, found in the wonderful 3rd chapter of the WCF.

1. Yes, he so decreed it. He decrees everything that comes to pass. See WCF chapter III, section I.

2. Depends on the situation, I am sure. Again, see chapter III, section I and II. In any case, every sin we do is exactly the sin we want to do. We are never coerced. Gods decrees come about in a way that is perfectly consistent with the choices of His creatures. Every decreed action is consistent with the choices made by the parties involved, and those parties involved never are coerced.

THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH
Chapter III. Of God's Eternal Decree

I. God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet has He not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.

IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.

V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, has chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto ; and all to the praise of His glorious grace.

VI. As God has appointed the elect unto glory, so has He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only .

VII. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extends or withholds mercy, as He pleases, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.

VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men, attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.

 

[Geneva]

1. It is true that God willed that I commit sin S1 at time T?
2. If so, in what way does he bring about that sin?

What do you mean by willed? That is very important when answering this question.

If you mean manipulated in a way to cause you to sin then the answer is most definitely no. God never causes someone to someone.

If you mean sovereignly ordained so that you certainly commit that sin at that specific time, then the answer is yes. He works everything according to the counsel of his will. Eph 1:11.

There are also many other situations where it is clear that God ordained sin to surely happen without being the author, culpable, or responsible for the sin. The best example of this is the murder of Christ. See Acts 4:27-28. Other examples abound

This is, of course, a very important question, but we must be very careful here. We don't want to end up making God the author of sin. I suggest that we read the second paragraph of Jonathon Edwards work," The Sovereignty of God in The Salvation of Men" Edwards explains exactly how sin works within the framework of God's sovereign will.