Sunday, June 13, 2010

Were we created sinners?

Dr Joe Mizzi answers this question:

Question: If God so loved the world why did he create us imperfect sinners? If you believe the story in the Garden of Eden, then you have to admit that God set us up for failure. What kind of loving God would do such a thing? What kind of God would stand by and allow something like the holocaust to occur? The fact is that whether or not there is or is not a God, it doesn't really matter.

Answer: The Bible does not teach that God created man imperfect or sinful. As a matter of fact, the Bible clearly teaches than man was originally created good and upright. "Truly, this only I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes" (Ecclesiastes 7:29). “God created man in His own image...then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:27, 31).

Something happened after creation that ruined the image of God in us. Like God, we were created holy and righteous; but that image was defaced by sin. Man voluntarily chose to disobey God, even though he had been warned about the terrible consequences that would follow. The first man, Adam, sinned. He could choose to obey and disobey. He freely chose to disobey the Creator. It is his fault, not God’s.

Moreover, since Adam is our head and father, he is the representative of all the human family. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). We repeated and ratified his sinful choice a million times. We have no-one to blame but ourselves.

The diseases, trouble, decay, the holocaust and death are the consequence of our sin. It is our responsibility, and we deserve worse than that. Indeed, unless God is merciful to his rebellious creatures, we will all perish in Hell forever.

What kind of God would stand by and allow something like the holocaust to occur? The same God who stood by His beloved Son while he cried out, "My God, My God, why have thou forsaken me!" God did that for the love of sinners who would believe in Him; God gave His Son to liberate His enemies from the debt and penalty of their sins, which were transferred to Jesus on the cross. God loved the world that much!

Is God irrelevant in the face of the cruelties and injustices in our world? This thought is as foolish as it is arrogant. On the contrary, the existence of an all-powerful and just God is the sure guarantee that one day justice will prevail, just as He promised. Moreover, God is the hope of redemption from personal guilt and the miseries of this world and the world to come, to them who, instead of accusing God, admit their sinfulness, repent and trust His beloved Son.

From Just For Catholics

Dr Joe's website, Just for Catholics, is intended for his Catholic friends. He lives and ministers in Malta, which is 98% Catholic. The website, Just for Catholics, is full of helpful information to help someone compare the Scriptures with the teachings of the Roman Catholic church. Search the Doctrine section to see how the teachings about salvation by works, Mary, the Pope, etc line up with the Bible.

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Here is my testimony: mike