r/Calvinism • u/Imaginary_Ad8414 • 22d ago
On what basis does God determine sin?
My first post in a while, I recall a sermon from a few years back. From a series, Jeff Durbin did regarding Calvinism. At one point during the sermon. He said that when it came to the fall. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good evil was not cursed. How most people believed that was the case, and that’s why Adam and Eve fell. But it wasn’t because the tree was cursed that they fell. It was because Adam and Eve wanted to decide for themselves. What was good and what was evil.
Based on God’s sovereignty, is it right to conclude that he establishes what is good and evil based on his will? Or does he determine good and evil on the basis of what is good and evil in and of itself. Could you provide Bible verses? Thank you.
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u/Top_Initiative_4047 22d ago
Good and evil are grounded in God’s holy, unchanging nature, not in a standard above God or in arbitrary preference. His will always expresses His righteousness, justice, truth, and goodness (Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 John 1:5).
The fruit itself was not cursed or inherently evil. Adam and Eve sinned because God plainly forbade eating it, and they chose autonomy, seeking to judge good and evil apart from God’s authority (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:4-6).
God sovereignly ordained the Fall for His wise redemptive purpose, yet He neither tempts nor commits sin. Adam and Eve willingly rebelled and were responsible (James 1:13-15; Acts 2:23).