Let God Be God

If you read through Peter's first epistle, you come across some sticky concepts. One of the stickiest, perhaps, is found in the second chapter. Peter writes there that we are "living stones" because we believe in Christ, the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-7). "But," he goes on to say and explains about those who do not believe, who reject the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:7-8). He concludes,

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1 Peter 2:8)

Now, surely, you can feel the tension there. First we have that uncomfortable term, "destined." Then we see he is saying that they were "destined" to disobey. And at this point many honest, well-meaning, genuine, Bible-believing theologians balk. "No, no," they say, "it's not disobedience that is destined." So the NASB says, "They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." I put that word in italics because I emphasize it, but the NASB puts it in italics because it's not in there. It's added by the translators. Now, why would they do that? First, we will not agree that God causes sin. No way; no how. (And we all agree on that.) Second, the notion that God destines punishment exists elsewhere in Scripture. Jude, for instance, writes of "certain persons" who "have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation" (Jude 1:4). That "long beforehand" is literally "before time" and we might balk at the notion that some people are condemned before they're born, but it's there. So we'll buy that the condemnation might be foreordained; just not the sin.

Is that so? We all agree that God doesn't cause sin (James 1:13-15). Does that mean that God does not predestine sin? Let's look. Jesus was talking about His pending crucifixion at the Last Supper before the disciples had caught on to what He was talking about. He told them, "But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" (Luke 22:21-22). So His crucifixion was determined in advance as was His betrayal. Jesus knew from the beginning who would betray Him (John 6:64). Judas's betrayal was determined in advance and he would be culpable for it ("woe to that man"). That sin was predetermined. Or how about the worst sin of all time -- the illegal and unjust murder of the Son of God? According to Scripture, that was predestined by God to be carried out by specific people (Acts 4:27-28). That sin was predetermined. But I think the clearest example is back in Genesis. Joseph's brothers planned to kill him, but they relented and sold him off as a slave instead. After that whole story played out and Joseph ended up saving the whole family (and all who would be saved in Christ, since the Messiah was going to come through that line), the brothers feared reprisal. So they went and asked for forgiveness. Joseph, famously, told them, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good ..." (Gen 50:20). We have two players here -- the brothers ("you") and God. And we have two intents here -- evil and good. "Intent" is a word of "will" or "motivation" or "purpose." So the question here is what is "it"? What was the "it" that God intended for good and they intended for evil? The sin of selling their brother into slavery. Therefore, Joseph was arguing that God meant -- intended, purposed, willed -- "it" -- the sin -- for good while they meant it for evil. God willed their sin. He willed it to produce good, and the fact that He produced good from it didn't exonerate them for their sin, but He meant them to do it.

God didn't cause sin. He didn't force disobedience. He didn't push them into it. God allowed it. God allowed Judas to do what Judas would do and allowed Pilate and Herod et al. to perform the murder of God's Son. He determined it, but He didn't cause it. So it is abundantly clear in Scripture that God does appoint sin as well as judgment. He does so with clean hands Himself; He doesn't cause it. He does so with justice and with wisdom. The old joke is, "Lead me not into temptation; I can find it on my own." It's true. We don't need God to push us into sin; we're accomplished in that on our own (James 1:14-15; James 4:2-3). We don't need God or the devil to make us do it. It's good to know, then, that God knows how to use for good those things by which we condemn ourselves ... and some of that good is to save some.