Anchor Scripture: Genesis 3:22

Evil is a valid word, of which our common source of nourishment the Bible clearly attest, and for which several synonyms only define contexts. The issue, however, is about how this common attribute we share with the Father is used by both parties. One is with love, to heal. For the other, it is intended to take over and become Lord himself. Hence, the knowledge of evil did not suddenly appear following Adam’s transgression or Satan’s, but was always there with Him in whom all things consist. He, however, warned that it might not be used outside Himself. His love and mercy and justness constrains Him to apply it for the purpose of reconciliation, which love we all hail of Him; for He is love indeed!

Because there is now more than one party in possession of the knowledge of evil, each with a freewill to exercise it, there is a need to distinguish between what is God’s and what are others. The one applies it as a way to get the attention of man whom He truly loves; the other, because he wants to eliminate others, and if it were possible, to make himself Lord, which is his foolishness. And God is saying that there can be only one Lord, Jehovah! So that, while God has the power to put back life in all at the resurrection, man is really helpless, or in fact doesn’t care once he terminates a certain life. Hence, the commandment, “Thou shall not kill.”

Especially note that the goal here is to show anyway, that even though God rains evil (wrath) upon those who offend His divine order, it is wrought in love to correct and reinstate offenders to Himself. Evil, no matter the perpetrator, breed torment. That is why it is called evil. It afflicts whether it is from God or from man. Hear this: “For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away… till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early” (Hosea 5:14-15).

However, God disallows the use of this correcting tool outside of Himself. He alone holds the power that can redress all deviances and can restore life in the part that should offend, for “vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). Moreso, God is life, and life is with Him alone (Psalm 36:9, John 5:26). Outside of Him, adverse torment ends in death irreversibly. This is why the scripture testifies that there should be a resurrection for all in the end, and dry bones shall live again. God did not deny Himself!

The scripture, “Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil” brings to light the truth of the common attribute. It enlightens us on the true likeness of the fallen Adam, which, in any case, is the likeness of his degenerate race. That likeness, also, as we hear resounding from His Creator in this verse, has become common to both of them. The point then is to clarify that evil is both the likeness of God and the likeness of His image, man; as revealed from Genesis 2:27. We highlight the difference in application instead.

Amos 3:6 shows that God must authorize whatever goes on in the universe, according to his righteous judgment (Psalms 33:5). Even when a man determines in his heart to perpetuate evil, the justice of God must permit it to go forth or not. For “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good? Wherefore doeth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?” (Lam. 3:37-39, Psalms 33:9). This is the only way Amos 3:6 is true and yet supports that man does originate and effect evil. Satan, man, or any other being, once separated from God in disobedience, is inherently evil and contrary to God!

Thus, we affirm in the one part that “evil is not always synonymous with wrongdoing.” It depends on the perpetrator.