Introduction

Ever notice the increasing amount of evil today. Perverts are trying to sexualize children. Abortionists are threatening to burn down pregnancy centers and kill Pro-Lifers. Illegal aliens are raping and murdering American citizens. People are trying to assassinate former presidents. This has led many people to speak out against evil including J. P. Spears. JP defines evil as, “anyone who tries to control someone else in a way that’s not in their best interests.”[2] While admitting to not being a biblical scholar, he does talk a lot about God and Satan. This might be many people’s definition of evil. It looks good on the surface. Yet, it lacks biblical support. The Christian needs to ask himself or herself what God defines as evil according to His Word. Let’s look to God’s Word for our definition of evil.

The Biblical Definition of Evil

One of the most comprehensive passages on evil is Romans 3:9-23:

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV).

The above passage identifies all men as evil. Evil is manifested in not understanding God, not seeking God, turning aside from God, being worthless, not doing good, lying, cursing, being bitter, shedding blood, and not fearing God (vv. 10–18). God’s revealed Law, as seen in the Ten Commandments, is revealed as the standard of goodness imposed upon all people (vv. 19 – 20). Then evil is defined as falling short of God’s glory (v. 23).

Spears’s Definition Vs. The Biblical Definition

The above information would include J. P. Spears definition of evil; however, it falls far short of the definition God gives. Evil is anything which does not live up to God’s goodness. Sometimes, as seen in the passage, it is a complete going over the line of what God has called people to do. The biblical definition matches the definition given by this theological dictionary for sin, “Any thought or action that willfully or even unintentionally breaks God’s law and falls short of God’s design for creation.”[3] Evil is more than just trying to force others to do things which are not in another’s best interests.

Conclusion

In summary, J. P. Spears’s definition of evil certainly falls short of God’s definition of sin. His solution is also different from God’s solution for evil. J. P. Spears believes freedom will help overcome the evil in this world. God says men are desperately wicked and the whole world is accountable for sin (Romans 3:19-20).

The only solution is the solution God provided in the cross of Jesus. God sent Jesus to live a sinless life. Jesus fulfilled the whole Law. Jesus is the only good person who ever lived. God had Jesus surrender His life as the substitute for mankind by suffering under God’s wrath on the cross for the sin of all who would repent and trust in Jesus. God put on Jesus the sin of all who would believe in Him and extinguished it. Then He accredited Jesus’s goodness to all those who believe in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). God commands all men to repent and trust in Jesus for salvation. Repent and trust in Jesus today.

If you want more biblical resources on how to study the Scriptures, then check out the store at strivingforeternity.org/store. There are also a lot of other articles on the website to encourage you to dive deeper into God’s Word. Please also check out Apologetics Live at strivingforeternity.org/apologeticslive where Andrew Rappaport, Drew Von Nieda, and Aaron M. Brewster answer your questions and teach you how to defend the faith. It is on from 8pm – 10pm EST. Also do not forget to check out the Rap Report where you can hear the teaching of Andrew Rappaport and the Christian Podcast community. Lord bless you.

[1] J. P. Spears, “Why I Changed My Mind About Evil! (I Was Wrong),” Youtube, August 16, 2022, Accessed August 17, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPt6gvRQnhs&t=790s

[2]Ibid., Time spot 2:09 – 2:17.

[3] Kelly M. Kapic and Wesley Vander Lugt, Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition, The IVP Pocket Reference Series (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013), 110.