I recently read an article by D. L. Debord on the Origin of Sin. In it, he brought out that sin did not first start in the Garden of Eden (this is when man sinned), but when the angels and Satan sinned.
Peter (by inspiration) discussed the Lord’s return, emphasizing that there will be those who teach false doctrines about every conceivable thing. In the immediate context of 2 Peter 2:4-11 (which is one sentence) he discusses the doom of those who teach false doctrines. Peter is specific in stating that their end will be like the end of those angels that sinned; “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell (tartarus) and delivered them into the chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment“
Jude and 2 Peter are very closely related, as they both talk about the false teachers that came (Peter emphasizing those false teachers that will come – Jude emphasizing that they are in the midst of the church as he wrote). Hence, Jude references the same idea in Jude 6 “and the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; . . . “
These verses teach that before man was created, there was a rebellion in heaven against God. John in Revelation 12 may also have depicted what happened when Satan and the sinning angels were cast out of heaven, and the ones who “won” are those who were faithful to God in overcoming sin and Satan “. . . by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11).
Satan tempted Eve and Adam in the Garden, and they chose to follow Satan. The temptation to be like God, indeed to make ourselves like gods, is a temptation that tempts from the pride of life – we don’t need God; we don’t need anyone but ourselves. The world we live in today is a result of man’s sin, and even creation itself is waiting for the redemption of the sons of God (Romans 8:19-22). Sin is the cause of our problems, disagreements, divisions and hatred. Jesus’ death on the cross gives us hope that we can look beyond the grave and know there is a day of reckoning and judgment – a day in which God’s children will go home to be with him and have no more pain, heartache, suffering, death . . . There will be no more sin, hence no more of the things that divide people today.
So, why doesn’t God end sin now? Why is he waiting? Knowing what it does to us and our relationship with God and one another, why does God allow sin to continue?
“Adam and Eve’s experience forces each of us to decide what path we will take. Will we trust and obey? Will we doubt and go our own way? Will we die or live?“ Another grand purpose we might detect in God allowing sin is the way in which sin highlights mankind’s need for God and dependence on his grace funneled through his Son. One purpose of the Law was to confine everyone under sin so that salvation would be by grace. Galatians 3:22 says, “the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” In Romans 11:32-33 Paul wrote, “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, (continued on back)
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the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” As odd as it may seem, we can be thankful that sin allows us to see God’s glory and God’s love highlighted as he saves us.” (D. L. Debord on the Origin of Sin.) https://restorationtheologian.com/2020/06/16/origin-of-sin/
