Why Is There Evil? Understanding the Origins of Evil and God’s Plan for Victory
As part of the BASICS series at Open Arms Community Church, Josh Hatcher explored one of the most difficult questions people ask about faith: If God is good, why is there evil? This message examines what Scripture teaches about the origin of evil, humanity’s rebellion, the role of free will, and God’s ultimate victory through Jesus Christ.
The Question Everyone Asks
If God is good, why is there evil?
It’s a question that becomes impossible to ignore when looking at the world around us. Headlines are filled with stories of violence, addiction, abuse, disease, and death. Many people have experienced evil firsthand, either through suffering inflicted upon them or through the consequences of their own choices.
The Bible does not avoid this question. Instead, it tells a story—a story of creation, rebellion, redemption, and ultimately, victory.
To understand why evil exists, it is necessary to begin at the beginning.
Evil Was Not Part of God’s Original Design
When God created the heavens and the earth, He declared His creation good. Humanity was created in His image and given authority to steward creation under His rule.
There was no death.
No suffering.
No abuse.
No addiction.
No evil.
The brokenness that fills the world today was not part of God’s original design.
The First Rebellion
Scripture points to a rebellion that occurred before humanity’s fall. Satan, originally created good, became consumed by pride and rebelled against God.
7 Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. 8 And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. 9 This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.
Revelation 12:7-9
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+12%3A7-9&version=NLT
4 For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell,[a] in gloomy pits of darkness,[b] where they are being held until the day of judgment.
2 Peter 2:4
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+2%3A4&version=NLT
“Son of man, sing this funeral song for the king of Tyre. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord:
“You were the model of perfection,
full of wisdom and exquisite in beauty.
13 You were in Eden,
the garden of God.
Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone[a]—
red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone,
blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper,
blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—
all beautifully crafted for you
and set in the finest gold.
They were given to you
on the day you were created.
14 I ordained and anointed you
as the mighty angelic guardian.[b]
You had access to the holy mountain of God
and walked among the stones of fire.
15 “You were blameless in all you did
from the day you were created
until the day evil was found in you.
16 Your rich commerce led you to violence,
and you sinned.
So I banished you in disgrace
from the mountain of God.
I expelled you, O mighty guardian,
from your place among the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was filled with pride
because of all your beauty.
Your wisdom was corrupted
by your love of splendor.
So I threw you to the ground
and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.
Ezekiel 28:12-17
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+28%3A12-17&version=NLT
These passages provide glimpses into the fall of Satan and the spiritual rebellion that preceded humanity’s own rebellion against God.
Humanity Chose Rebellion
The story becomes much more personal in Genesis 3.
God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a perfect garden. He gave them freedom and responsibility, along with one command: do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The serpent deceived Eve. Adam joined her in disobedience.
Together, they chose rebellion over trust.
As a result, sin entered the world. Brokenness followed. Pain, suffering, and death became part of the human experience.
Yet even in that moment of judgment, God gave a promise. The serpent would not have the final word. One day, the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
The promise of victory was hidden within the curse itself.
Why Didn’t God Prevent Evil?
Many people ask why God didn’t simply create humanity incapable of choosing evil.
The answer is tied directly to the nature of love.
Love cannot be forced.
A relationship without freedom is not love at all. Genuine love requires the ability to choose.
C.S. Lewis wrote:
“Free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.”
Because God is love, He created humanity with the freedom to choose Him or reject Him.
Without freedom, there can be no real love.
The Problem Is Not Just “Out There”
When discussing evil, it is easy to think about the worst people in the world.
The Bible turns the spotlight back on all of humanity.
Every person has sinned.
Every person has fallen short of God’s standard.
Every person has participated in the rebellion.
12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
Romans 5:12
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5%3A12&version=NLT
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Romans 3:23
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A23&version=NLT
9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
1 John 1:9-10
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+1%3A9-10&version=NLT
If God were to instantly eradicate all evil, He would have to eradicate every sinner as well.
Instead, He chose another path.
Jesus Is God’s Answer to Evil
From the moment humanity fell, God began revealing His plan of redemption.
The entire Bible points toward Jesus Christ.
The sacrifices of the Old Testament, the promises of the prophets, and the hope of Israel all point toward the One who would crush the serpent’s head.
Jesus lived a perfect life.
He never sinned.
He willingly died on the cross as the sacrifice for humanity’s sin.
Then He rose from the dead.
In His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil.
19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus[a] be with you.
Romans 16:19-20
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+16%3A19-20&version=NLT
Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had[a] the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
Hebrews 2:14-15
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+2%3A14-15&version=NLT
The cross was not evil’s greatest victory.
It was evil’s greatest defeat.
The Resurrection Was D-Day
One of the most helpful ways to understand Christ’s victory is through the events of World War II.
D-Day was the decisive battle that determined the outcome of the war. Once the Allies secured Normandy, victory became inevitable.
Yet the war did not end that day.
There were still battles to fight.
There was still territory to reclaim.
The resurrection works in much the same way.
When Jesus rose from the grave, the decisive victory was won.
The outcome was settled.
The enemy’s defeat became inevitable.
Yet history continues until the day Christ returns and fully establishes His Kingdom.
Living Between Victory and Completion
This explains why evil still exists today.
Jesus has defeated the penalty of sin.
Jesus is breaking the power of sin.
One day Jesus will remove the presence of sin forever.
The Kingdom of God is already here, but it has not yet arrived in its fullness.
For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A25-26&version=NLT
And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. 6 For in one place the Scriptures say,
“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
or a son of man[a] that you should care for him?
7 Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.[b]
8 You gave them authority over all things.”[c]
Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:5-9
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+2%3A5-9&version=NLT
This is why Christians live with hope.
One day there will be:
No more death.
No more addiction.
No more abuse.
No more cancer.
No more funerals.
No more evil.
Jesus will make all things new.
Satan Is Not God’s Equal
Many people imagine an eternal struggle between two equal forces: God and the devil.
Scripture presents something very different.
Satan is not equal to God.
He is not as powerful as God.
He is a created being who chose rebellion.
As Martin Luther famously said:
“Even the devil is God’s devil.”
Even the enemy remains subject to God’s authority.
If any nation comes to fight you,
it is not because I sent them.
Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.
16 “I have created the blacksmith
who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
And I have created the armies that destroy.
17 But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Isaiah 54:15-17
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+54%3A15-17&version=NLT
The enemy may be dangerous, but he is not sovereign.
Taking Back Ground
While awaiting Christ’s return, believers are called to participate in the advance of God’s Kingdom.
Taking back ground is not primarily about dramatic spiritual encounters.
It happens every time truth replaces lies.
Every time forgiveness replaces bitterness.
Every time obedience replaces rebellion.
Every time someone serves another person in Jesus’ name.
Every act of faithfulness pushes back against darkness.
Spiritual Warfare Begins with Surrender
One of the most important passages about spiritual warfare is often misunderstood.
Scripture Reference:
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
James 4:7-10
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A7-10&version=NLT
Notice the order.
Submit yourselves to God.
Then resist the devil.
Submission comes before resistance.
Victory begins with surrender.
Spiritual warfare starts by giving Jesus complete authority over every area of life.
Fight From Victory
Followers of Jesus are not fighting for victory.
They are fighting from victory.
Christ has already won.
The decisive battle has already been fought.
The King is already on the throne.
Evil may still be powerful, but it is living on borrowed time.
King Jesus is making all things new.
And one day, every trace of evil will be gone forever.
A Prayer of Surrender and Victory
The battle against evil is not won through willpower, fear, or striving. It begins by surrendering to Jesus, renouncing the things that give the enemy influence in our lives, and embracing the victory Christ has already won.
If the Holy Spirit has highlighted an area of your life that needs to be surrendered to God, take a moment and pray this prayer sincerely. Let it be more than words. Make it a declaration of trust in Jesus and a commitment to follow Him wherever He leads.
Prayer
Jesus, we submit to You.
You are King over all.
You win in the end because of the work You did at the cross and the empty grave.
Today, we renounce and repent:
Of sin.
Of lies we believe.
Of shame.
Of bitterness.
Of fear.
Of unforgiveness.
Of lust.
Of addiction.
In the authority of Jesus, we resist the devil’s hold over our lives and we say to him:
No more. Get out.
And we ask Your Holy Spirit to fill the places that are left vacant.
Jesus, we worship You as King.
We honor You, and we thank You for Your love for us.
We accept Your forgiveness for us.
We pledge our lives to serve Your Kingdom with everything we are and all we have.
It is Yours.
In Your name we declare and celebrate Your victory.
Amen.
