Surprisingly, a Gospel Coalition booklet has failed to deliver. Although this deals with the issues of sin and the fall in a very sound way, the treatment is shorter than even the other booklets in this series. Plus at least half of the text is comprised of quotes (at times rather lengthy) taken from other people. Nothing wrong with using quotes, but some judicious editing and more original work from the author would have been nice.

Many people question whether God was wise and just to ordain evil. God, who is holy and not the author of evil, did not merely “permit” evil. It is not as though God did not ordain evil but allowed it to occur. The view that God merely permits evil fails to provide an answer that removes the tension that comes from affirming that God ordains evil, because in both cases God is ordering the entrance of sin. [11]

When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately experienced a sense of shame and attempted to cover their nakedness. They also felt guilty, since they hid themselves. They had never felt this way before, but now they would never rid themselves of guilt, shame, and corruption. Satan promised that they would gain knowledge of good and evil, but he didn’t tell them that they couldn’t handle it. [13]

Modern politicians, philosophers, scientists, psychologists, and sociologists often propose remedies for the ills of our world. But remedies that don’t take into account this understanding of sin are mere child’s play because they have not begun to understand the depth of the human predicament. Humans can’t solve their deep, universal problem of sin. Only God can. [16]

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