One of the truly great debates in Western history has been whether a good God would still make a universe filled with sin and evil. Because, as the leftist argument goes--it’s transparently true that an all powerful, all knowing, and totally just God would not add evil to His creation, then let it ruin human life. Because this would be cruel and avoidably sadistic.

But consider the alternative

But consider the alternative. To Remove sin from the universe would mean that the entire historic layout of the Christian worldview is abandoned. For, if there's no sin then there's no reason for Christ to come to earth as man-God to die and spill his blood on the cross to pay for all of mankind’s non-existent sins. Correct? But then who would teach us about the love of God that passes all understanding?

Overall, we understand that sin makes life so obnoxious that it causes humans to seek an antidote for all the pain and suffering it causes, This then encourages us to reach out to God for relief. Because Everything that we don't like about Earth can be put into the context of problems needing improvements by removing the sin. And if the torment of sin causes us to seek a cure, then the Kingdom of Heaven is close by! And so this causes us to reach out and become more religious and godly. And so the very obnoxiousness and cruelty of sin causes us to think of a higher antidote, which exists in Jesus Christ.

But we must not assume that there was no plan for a world without sin. Billy Graham posits the following argument summary:

If Eve had not sinned, humanity would have remained in an unfallen, paradisiacal state. This scenario fundamentally alters the trajectory of human history, theology, and the nature of life itself:

• Absence of Death and Suffering: Physical decay, illness, and death would not exist. Humanity would have lived indefinitely in a state of perfect bliss, harmony with nature, and unhindered communion with God.
• No Redemptive Sacrifice: The crucifixion of Jesus Christ to atone for humanity's sins would not have taken place. The concept of "salvation" as the Bible describes it would be entirely unnecessary.
• Lack of Moral Knowledge: Humanity would have remained innocent but without the conscious knowledge of good and evil, lacking the free will to choose between the two or the capacity to grasp moral concepts.
• Alternative Trajectories: Some theologians, like St. Irenaeus, suggest that the Incarnation might still have occurred to elevate humanity to "divinity," but purely to facilitate spiritual growth rather than as a rescue mission

John Hick, English philosopher developed the “Irenaean theodicy,” arguing God intentionally allows suffering and evil to create an environment where people can spiritually grow and become virtuous souls capable of loving God.

Alvin Plantinga, American philosopher argues a “Free Will Defense,” stating logically that God and evil must coexist since even an omnipotent God cannot guarantee that creatures with free will will always choose good.

REGARDING HELL

“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” – Dante Alighieri

“The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.” – Dante Alighieri

“Hope not ever to see Heaven. I have come to lead you to the other shore; into eternal darkness; into fire and into ice.”― Dante Alighieri, Inferno

“And I--my head oppressed by horror--said:

"Master, what is it that I hear? Who are those people so defeated by their pain?"

"And he to me: "This miserable way is taken by the sorry souls of those who lived without disgrace and without praise.

"They now commingle with the coward angels, the company of those who were not rebels nor faithful to their God, but stood apart.

"The heavens, that their beauty not be lessened, have cast them out, nor will deep Hell receive them--even the wicked cannot glory in them.”― Dante Alighieri, Inferno

Now we can imagine how the many images of hell and crime and violent death and murders and every kind of treason and faithless activity populate the minds of those who were terrified to go to hell. And so God does use all of this fear, including the red of Hell's fire and all of the many evil acts done by a man, one to another. God uses this to remind all of us that at some point there's going to be a judgment. And if one does not have Christ standing in front of him at the Judgment seat then every person in that position is lost to an eternity of torment. And so Sin becomes its own picture, and illustration, and terror to drive the lost towards God.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” – Matthew 13:44

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 14:17

Kelly O'Connell——Bio and Archives

Kelly O’Connell is an author and attorney. He was born on the West Coast, raised in Las Vegas, and matriculated from the University of Oregon. After laboring for the Reformed Church in Galway, Ireland, he returned to America and attended law school in Virginia, where he earned a JD and a Master’s degree in Government. He spent a stint working as a researcher and writer of academic articles at a Miami law school, focusing on ancient law and society. He has also been employed as a university Speech & Debate professor. He then returned West and worked as an assistant district attorney. Kelly is now is a private practitioner with a small law practice in New Mexico.