QUESTIONS ABOUT SIN by Roswell Fenner Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 13, 1881

QUESTIONS ABOUT SIN.

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

SIN is in the world. No sane man, who knows enough to complain of the wrong-doing of his neighbor, can dispute the fact. The Bible tells us the simple story of its entrance; and it also sets before sinners a way of pardon and life. But the carnal mind is not so ready to repent and accept of pardon as it is to question and impeach the wisdom of God in permitting sin to enter. Why did not God place man in a condition in which sin would be impossible? Men imagine that they could have devised a wiser plan. But it is enough for me to know that sin has been permitted by a wisdom superior to mine; and I can see too that man, in being made free to choose, is more honored by God than he would have been had inexorable fate predetermined his course of action. In the wisdom of God sin exists; and it is enough for me to know that there is a perfect and infallible remedy in Jesus Christ.

But there is another question concerning sin which is open for discussion. It is this: Shall sin exist forever? Now, unless God has revealed the fact that in his purpose sin shall not be destroyed, but shall exist forever, it certainly is a subject on which we are free to reason. And is it not more reasonable to think that sin is a temporary evil, and that it shall cease to exist, than to believe that it is to continue forever? Who can produce a reason why evil should be immortalized, and to endless ages mar the fair creation of God?

And where is the revelation that this is the purpose of God? Is it not on the other hand revealed that God will destroy the devil and his works? Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8. The curse followed sin. Gen 3:17. The time will come when the curse will be no more. Rev. 22:3. Will it not be thus because sin, the cause of the curse, has been utterly destroyed? This is reasonable; is it not also scriptural?

R. F. COTTRELL.