Bible Discussion Thread

We do not control our thoughts most of the time. So how does that factor in?

I'm happy my thoughts are not the creators thoughts, because thoughts just get thrown into my mind, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I would hope the creator doesn't have bad thoughts about mankind, because we are the creators creation.

But, according to Genesis 3:22, we became like the creator in knowing good and evil. So, does the creator have evil thoughts as well, and how are those thoughts different from mankind?

No, He is not anything close to evil. But the devil is evil. The reason why there is those thoughts that we have is because of the devil. Ever since Adam and Eve ate the tree of knowledge, we have been in his temptation. The sin of the world came in because of them, and God knew they would do it. And since He knew, He would a long time later give Christ so we could overcome the temptation and know God for ourselves. If you accept Him, and put on the Holy armor of God, you will have the authority to rebuke the evil thoughts, and repent from all sin. You will slip up once in a while, but you just repent, and continue living for your Lord. Hope this helped

We are able to control when we put on the new man in CHRIST. When a bad thought pops into ones mind command the devil to flee, don't ask command him to flee and he will run from you all in JESUS name. CHRIST gave us the power over all our enemies in HIS name. To not have bad thoughts we have to put away earthly things and let the spiritual man take over. Paul explains this in Col. 3:;

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Quit watching tv that may put bad thoughts in your mind, quit doing things that may do the same. We have to be in the world but we don't have to be of the world. Keep studying the WORD and build up your spirit to overcome wickedness, every day in the WORD is a good day!!

Dear Daniel.

At first Chris's answer is great.

But I want to see it from a different angle.

Lets go to Genesis 3: 4-5

V4 - And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

V5 - For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

In that statement there a lie, a truth, and something hidden. That is really evil because people see the truth and then easily accept the lie.

The lie is that Adam and Eve will not die.

The truth is that Adam and Eve will know good and evil like God does.

The hidden thing is that since people get to know evil then they cannot avoid it. They become vulnerable to it. It is not the same with God. Read James 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:"

God knowes what evil is but He is not tempted by it. His nature is invulnerable to sin. This is a huge difference between man and God.

The lesson? There are thoughts in our minds that are ours, thoughts from God and thoughts from satan. If a thought is from God then it is about smt good. If otherwise then it may be from satan. In this case don't go to a discussion with satan when he places thoughts in your mind. You cannot win, you wiil eventually fail. Do what Jesus did when faced him in the dessert. Answered him using the Scripture, because the Scripture is the truth. Satan also tried to use himself the Scripture by twisting it but still Jesus answered back the right answer because He knew the Scripture well. Lesson for us? We have to study and learn the Scripture, what it is written, what is meant, etc. And still when a bad thought comes to your mind, nevermind if it yours or satan's, just throw it away, don't think about it, you never know where it will lead you to. There is a saying I like " We can not avoid birds sitting on a tree but we can send them away"

GBU

Hi Daniel. Your question appears quite philosophical which demands a similar response & I'm unsure mine will cut it - maybe others can share better.

I understand that man & woman (in Genesis) were created in complete innocence, having pure thoughts before God, with each other, & with their surroundings. If any evil came by them, even as Satan approached them, their thoughts towards him & his words should not have been tainted with anything impure. Even Satan's promise that they wouldn't die if they ate of that tree, & their consideration of that promise, probably still did not constitute anything evil. But when those pure thoughts & holy position before God were being contested against offerings that were not in their sphere of innocence, they had the choice of withdrawing back to God's Word (as Jesus did in Matthew chapter 4) or accede to that which made appeal to the 'flesh, eyes, life's vanities'. So, Adam & Eve did become like their Creator in knowing "good & evil", except that knowledge that was held in the realm of God, became the undoing of man who was destined to fail being led to sin.

Then what about the thoughts by the Creator? Are those thoughts from a Holy God Who could destroy masses of people or send an evil spirit to persuade a man, or even allow a test to someone to the point of breakdown, be regarded as 'evil'? Could it be that what we see as sin, fails to understand the origin & intent of the 'perpetrator'? Is there a difference when sinful man murders another and when a Holy God takes a person's life? I'm trying to, by these questions, submit that when apparent evil is seen, if it comes from a sinful man, then it is sin; if it comes from a Holy God, then His Acts are based on holiness, righteousness, & justice. So God's 'evil' thoughts are not evil, but might seem evil from a sinner's perspective. Adam & Eve were first denied such knowledge - they then succumbed to Satan - they lost their innocence - their thoughts would always be tainted.

Brother Chris,

Thank you for your thoughts on this subject. In Isaiah 55: 6-7 it says the following;

6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

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

The word states that the LORD creates darkness and evil. In order to do those things, one must have thoughts of evil and darkness. Now, perhaps those creations are for holy reasons, however, one MUST generate those evil and dark thoughts to create whatever darkness and evil for whatever reason(s).

The main point is, having the thoughts, since everything is an idea to start. In order to create something, it must start as an idea, which is a thought.

Hope this makes sense. Thanks again for your response. I can tell you're a deep thinking spirit.

Peace be with you.

Those are good points brother & I thank you for bringing up Isaiah 45:6,7, as it's a passage that I've also considered previously.

Even though I don't expect others to read verse 7 in the way I do, I still submit it for your thoughts. The LORD says, "I form the light, and create darkness". The same LORD Who formed the light for the first time, the light which instantly covered over the darkness, dispelling it, can also by His Power, remove that light - darkness then prevailing.

The LORD continues, "I make peace, and create evil". In Hebrew, 'peace' is 'sa-lowm', which is of course 'peace, & also means soundness, completeness'. And for 'evil', the word is 'ra' ', which gives the meaning of both 'evil & adversity'. As in the matter of His creation of light & removal of that light, I wonder whether we could apply the same thought in that verse, that God Who alone can give peace & completeness to a person or to any part of His Creation, can also by His Power, remove that peace? The result being, the entrance of evil, the evil brought to bear on us by Satan.

I'm sure the LORD knows all about evil, its author, its make-up, & its ramifications. But knowledge of it doesn't imply use of it. I don't understand it as "dark thoughts" with God, rather that He permits evil according to His Knowledge & Demands: whether to remove the peace He gives, or allowing Satan free rein, or even instigating circumstances where evil is manifest - for His purposes. Maybe 'creation of evil' is what God allows (by removing peace) rather than arising from His Person, which could never be true of One altogether Holy. Blessings.

Interesting discussion indeed my brother. I would add the following.

During the flood of Noah, that more than likely, there were babies and children who died during this event. The thought of this happening breaks my heart as a dad and grandpa. There is no mention of Satan being granted permission to create this flood.

Genesis 6:17 is very clear.

"And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die."

The creator must have processed the thoughts of what would happen to the little ones, and how scared they must have been. And then look into the future and see in the same word the following.

Psalms 127: 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

So, the question still remains.

Does the creator have evil thoughts?

I don't expect any of mankind to know this answer, for only the creator knows.

Peace be with you brother.

Indeed brother Daniel, not only the Genesis Flood account, but a whole lot of other instances where the Lord had either destroyed, commanded Israel to destroy people (including children), animals, & even the destructions yet in the future, can all be considered. From our view, even from the moral command not to kill & that any killing of another human being is murder, we can easily apply that to all instances of taking of life. When man takes another man's life, the plan & execution of that act comes forth from an evil heart. Now, can we apply the same with God? Does God need to first have such "evil thoughts" to both devise & execute His Plan?

If no sin can be found with God (for if there is, then He ceases to be the God Who we know from the Bible), then there must be another aspect about Him that differs from sinful man. Without making this too long, my mind is always directed to Jeremiah 18:1-10. I learn from these verses, that the Lord can do what He pleases with Israel as well to the nations. And by 'nations', we must include its inhabitants, old & young, its governments, infrastructure, culture, etc.; anything that could mean a complete annihilation of a people given over to wickedness. And Israel was not exempt.

"Does the creator have evil thoughts?" If those thoughts are based on righteousness & justice (which sinful man could not have), then I could not conceive those thoughts to be evil but are determinations according to the standards that God sets, Whose Standards cannot be disputed. If they appear evil to us, it's probably that we're looking at the matter in human terms, with human minds, from our fallen state, rather than from a Holy Creator's View & Understanding - One Who does all things well even if we decide to the contrary. Blessings to you brother.

Hello, I thought I'd share my thoughts on your last paragraph about God's goodness.

God is the author of life and has the moral right to take it. Some people seem to be falsely comparing their narrow view of the world to their creator and some even border on blasphemy by accusing God of being "bad." People should be afraid of getting anywhere close to this line, because it could be the unforgiveable sin. People often falsely assume people who commit evil deserve their rights to commit evil, while disregarding the rights stripped of those they harm. So, on occasions where God steps in and removes an evil threat, then some complain and accuse God of wrongdoing. I bet if God removed everyone's freewill and eliminated all evil then people would then complain about having no freewill. Either way, people complain and act self-entitled to everything they demand, as if God is some kind of genie to serve them, rather than the other way around. God bless.

Fully agree brother Adam. Most people don't know the Lord, even less His Ways. They are answerable to no one except themselves. Then anyone who opposes them (i.e. their actions) is the enemy & if it's perceived that a divine Hand has brought them affliction, rather than bow before Him & turn from their sins, they choose to curse Him.

Such is the condition of the human heart devoid of Light, Truth & humility before their Creator. I'm sure Adam & Eve had no problems understanding & accepting God's Pronouncements against them for their disobedience. If anything, they might have bickered amongst themselves afterwards as to which of them caused this grave sin that brought no immediate relief. Man today is lost in his own world of depravity, never understanding or desiring that there is a Loving God Who is far greater & holy that what he ignorantly perceives of himself.

Beloved "Daniel", as you say it is, even in a double sense. Proclaim death and depravity and it will be like this. Proclaim peace and joy and it will be. We learn to capture the thoughts so that they do not lead to sin.

2 Corintihans 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Yes, He also created all life forms. Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Then I think: Moray eels in the depths of the ocean, the Whale and the Snake. Elephants, Crocodiles, or Piraia. When you go into that world and see everything that has been created. We also understand that this can be a picture of what we can encounter in the Spiritual world.

The only thing I can advise is to eat God's Word, ask for guidance. So that you get to know them all, for even then reveal those who do not want good.

Stay blessed in Jesus Name, love u in Christ. Luke 8:40-56

Romans 1:18-32, Jeremiah 19:5, Romans 11:33-34, Romans 8:7, please read all of Romans 8,

Ephesians 4:14-32, 1Corinthians 2, Psalms 139, Colossians 3:12-17, Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 2:3,

2Timothy 1:7,

* Romans 12:1-2, Romans 12, Psalms 1:1

Hopefully these are helpful