Was sin an inevitable consequence of the gift of free will?

[PatrickSebast]

Does the Church have any official teachings on this matter? Was the fall and eventual redemption of man always a part of God’s plan or was the fall unintended (though obviously still foreseen) and the redemption through Christ just a response?

 

[SonCatcher]

 

[smichhertz]

Does the Church have any official teachings on this matter? Was the fall and eventual redemption of man always a part of God’s plan or was the fall unintended (though obviously still foreseen) and the redemption through Christ just a response?

Hi PatrickSebast,

The fall was certainly not intended by God. It makes no sense for God to intend evil.

Therefore, sin was not an inevitable consequence of free will. We could have chosen to not sin and remained in a state of original justice with God.

Hope that helps!

 

[PatrickSebast]

Hi PatrickSebast,

The fall was certainly not intended by God. It makes no sense for God to intend evil.

Therefore, sin was not an inevitable consequence of free will. We could have chosen to not sin and remained in a state of original justice with God.

Hope that helps!

I don’t think that sin being an inevitable consequence of free will would mean that God intended evil. If God decided to give humans free will knowing that they couldn’t help but eventually sin as a result of that free will it doesn’t mean he intended them to sin, just that he saw greater value in the granting humanity a free will and granting them an eventual redemption than he did in in having man eternally in the original state of justice. I do understand what you are saying though and have heard it before which is why I was asking if there was any official teaching on the matter.

 

[francisca]

The bible say that

1. there are only two “wills” : The Will of the true God, and the will of the other.
2. freedom only exist in God
3. free people choose the Will of God
4. there is no freedom in choosing otherwise (God’s enemy wills slavery)

So,

Freewill is a freedom to choose between good and good : to choose from all the good things provided by God (Genesis). God’s enemy, however, deceived us into his evil will to oppose God’s Will. There is no freedom in the latter.

 

[smichhertz]

I don’t think that sin being an inevitable consequence of free will would mean that God intended evil. If God decided to give humans free will knowing that they couldn’t help but eventually sin as a result of that free will it doesn’t mean he intended them to sin, just that he saw greater value in the granting humanity a free will and granting them an eventual redemption than he did in in having man eternally in the original state of justice. I do understand what you are saying though and have heard it before which is why I was asking if there was any official teaching on the matter.

Fair enough, inevitable certainty doesn’t necessarily equal intention.

I would say that it’s not really free will if evil is inevitable. Free will means we can freely choose. Therefore, if evil were the inevitable choice, it wouldn’t really be free. Sure, the odds may be stacked in favor of one choice or another, but as long as it’s a choice, I don’t think either can be inevitable.

Hence, sin was not an inevitable consequence of the gift of free will.