The following is taken from R250 (with some editing)

“To make all see, what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God.” “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:–that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one, all things in Christ.” (Eph. 1:8, and 3:4, 5, 9)

In this particular study the Pastor chose to approach the discussion from the perspective of an imaginary dialogue between friends designated as brother’s A, B and C.

Dialogue: A conversation or reasoning upon some topic or particular issue by two or more persons, with a view of reaching an amicable agreement or settlement.

This study may be of benefit to those who like Brother B are somewhat confused as to the how to harmonize the subject with the whole plan and character of God.

Why does God permit Evil, Suffering?

B.–Good evening, Brother A.: if you have the time I would like to have some conversation with reference to the Bible.

A.–I am at leisure, my brother, and such a conversation should be of interest and profit to both of us.

Have you struck a new vein of precious metal in the mine of truth?

B.–Well, no; I cannot say so. The fact is, I am somewhat perplexed to know whether the Bible is really a mine of truth or not. There are many beautiful truths taught in the Bible which commend themselves to my judgment, and if I could only have my mind clear on some points, I would gladly accept the whole. It seems, too, that there must be some way out of my difficulties, if I could only find it, for surely the book is stamped with a wisdom higher than human, and my difficulty may arise from a failure to comprehend it more fully.

A.–Well, my brother, it gives me great pleasure to meet with an honest inquirer after truth. You are anxious, then, to find the connecting links in the great chain which binds the interests of humanity to the throne of God. We believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and that the Spirit will guide us in the understanding of it. If it should please him to use me as his mouth-piece it will be a great privilege, and if I can render any assistance it will afford me pleasure.

B.—Well, can you explain why evil was permitted?

If God is infinite in power, wisdom, and goodness, why did he permit his fair creation to be so marred by sin?

After creating our first parents perfect and upright, why did he permit Satan to present the temptation, or why allow the forbidden tree to have a place among the good?

Could he not have prevented all possibility of man’s overthrow?

A.–I see just where your difficulty lies, and I think I can make it very plain to you. It pleased God for the joy it gives him to dispense his goodness, and to exercise the attributes of his glorious being, to create various orders of intelligent beings. Some he has endowed with greater capacity than others; but each he made perfectly adapted to his sphere. We are acquainted with many forms of life in our world, but above all others stands man, the masterpiece of God’s workmanship, endowed with reason and intelligence superior to all others, and given the dominion over all. He was made upright and perfect; God pronounced him “very good“–a perfect man– physically, mentally, and morally, yet unacquainted with evil and lacking experience. Had evil never been placed before him he could not have resisted it, and consequently there would have been no virtue or merit in his right-doing. I presume I need scarcely remark here that NOT the fruit of the tree but the act of disobedience caused man’s fall.

B.—But could not God have made man unchangeably perfect?

A.—NO; to have done so would have been to make another God. Unchangeableness is an attribute only of an infallible, infinite being–God. He who cannot err must, of necessity, be all-wise, all-powerful, and consequently eternal.

B.–I had never thought of it so.

A.—If an intelligent being is to be made at all, he must be made liable to change; and, as he was created pure, any change must be (downward) from purity to sin. He could not even know the meaning of good unless he had evil to contrast with it. He could not be reckoned as obedient to God unless a temptation to disobedience was presented, and such an evil made possible.

B.—But could not God, with whom we are told “all things are possible,” have interfered in season to prevent the full accomplishment of Satan’s designs?

A.—You say “all things are possible” with God. I trust you remember that it is all possible things that are possible with him. “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Heb. 6:18) “He cannot deny himself.”(2 Tim. 2:13) He cannot do wrong. Thus he could not have chosen any but the wisest and best plan for introducing his creatures into life; and we should bear in mind that the fact of God’s not interfering with the introduction and development of sin is one of the very strongest of reasons for believing that evil is necessary and designed ultimately to work good.

Continued with next post.