In Genesis 1-3 there are 6 simple answers about good, evil, and our purpose in life.
Simple Answers about Good and Evil
First, let’s answer the question about good. Good is a character quality. Questions about Good are essentially questions about God. The simple answer is that God is the source of all good. Jesus said, “No one is good– except God alone. (Luke 18:19). But who is God? Or the greater question is…
Is there a God? What is he like and how did life begin?
Have you ever asked yourself, even as a child, who made the birds, reptiles, animals, plants, trees, insects, the sea, and the creatures within it, the sky, and even the sun, moon, and stars? Genesis 1 and 2 reveal that the Almighty God, a spiritual being, is above and beyond all in power, wisdom, and comprehension. He is eternal, always existing and thriving, and always the same. He created the universe. He spoke words, and things came into being. That is more might, knowledge, and understanding than we can ever imagine. He is transcendent in every way, that’s true, but God is also personal, and he cares about all of his creation.
Where did evil come from?
Evil comes from sin. Sin is disobedience, rebellion, and any wrongdoing or failure to do what is right (1John 3:4-8; 1Samuel 15:23; James 4:17).
We see in today’s Bible reading that One day God walks in the cool of the evening to fellowship with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). But something is different. He expects to find them, but they are concealing themselves.
Why are they hiding? They have listened to the deceptive lies of a sly serpent creature. They have disobeyed their Almighty and kind-hearted God, eating from the only tree in the garden which God said they mustn’t eat. Now they are ashamed, filled with guilt, and hiding.
Because we are all the descendants of Adam and Eve, we are sinners by nature. But, lest we blame our first parents for everything, we should remember that like them, we are also sinners by choice. Their sins and ours lead us to physical and spiritual death, and we commit all kinds of evil (Genesis 2:16-17; 1Corinthians 15:22; Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:8).
In another context, Jesus said, The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (Matthew 12:35, NIV)
What can be done about evil?
God punishes Adam and Eve for their disobedience. He places curses on the man, the woman, and the serpent. Then God sacrifices animals and uses their hides to cover the shame and nakedness of our first parents. In doing so, he punishes them for sin, but with the punishment, God offers mercy. Later, the LORD will institute governments to punish wrongdoers.
We will learn more about what can be done about evil in other Bible studies, but for now, we can pray with confidence that God will eventually deal with it. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)
So, the obvious question is how does a man or woman become good?
The Apostle Paul says, This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24, see more)
Simple answers about our Purpose in Life
Who are we and where did we come from?
In Genesis 1 God declares we are his unique creation.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:26-27, NIV).
Like all of God’s creation, we were once created and assessed as very good (Genesis 1:31). Unlike the rest of God’s creation, however, we are the highest order; we are made in his image. He has given us intelligence, will, emotions, and an eternal soul.
What is our purpose in this world?
God created us for his pleasure (Genesis 1:31; Ephesians 1:3-14). Although he transcends all power, majesty, wisdom, and understanding; yet, from the very beginning, he desired to have a personal relationship with people, his unique creation. He wants us to have an abundant life that only he can give.
Discussion
- Who is God, and what is he like?
How does the Bible say that life began?
Where did evil come from?
What is the purpose of my life?
Write a Prayer Response to Today’s Bible Study
Looking Ahead: God created everything excellent, but he exercises Judgment and Grace when people go wrong. Find out more in our Next Lesson.
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