How God Uses Evil to Bring Salvation
As mentioned before, in order to truly become children of God, we must come to know both good and evil. That’s why God created the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In Hebrew, the word for “evil” is ra, and its root, according to Strong’s Concordance (#7489), is ra’a, which means “to ruin by breaking into pieces.”
The Purpose of Evil: To Break Us for Good
This word origin reveals something profound: God created and uses evil for a divine purpose—to break us. Not to destroy us, but to remake us. Through this “breaking,” we are emptied of self so we can fully depend on God. It is in the end of self that true knowledge of God through Christ Jesus begins.
Salvation, for all creation, comes through Christ’s death for sin, His burial, and His resurrection. As 1 Timothy 4:10 says, “God is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.” Let’s explore how God uses evil as a means to bring about salvation for both believers and unbelievers.
1. Evil Leads to the Believer’s Salvation
Believers receive a special salvation—as firstfruits (Romans 8:23). They are given faith by God to trust in the finished work of Christ. But that faith only comes after a breaking down of self. Believers must come to the painful realization that they cannot save themselves and are completely dependent on Christ for justification and righteousness.
God often brings His people through seasons of failure, loss, and hardship—not out of cruelty, but to strip away pride and self-reliance. It’s the “King Nebuchadnezzar experience”: a humbling that leads to the acknowledgment that all is of God.
The Example of Nebuchadnezzar
King Nebuchadnezzar once took credit for building Babylon. In response, God stripped him of everything, reduced him to eating grass like cattle, and left him there until he understood a vital truth:
“The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes.” – Daniel 4:17
Likewise, every believer must face a personal Nebuchadnezzar moment—a complete collapse of self-sufficiency—before recognizing that salvation is entirely God’s work, not ours.
2. Evil Leads to the Unbeliever’s Salvation
While believers are saved early by faith, unbelievers will be saved later through judgment. Many either reject God altogether or cling to some form of self-righteousness. Since they don’t yet recognize Christ’s completed work, God brings them through judgment—not to condemn them eternally, but to correct and transform them.
The Purpose of Judgment
Religion often teaches that judgment is eternal torment. But Scripture tells a different story. Judgment is correction, not vengeance:
“When Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” – Isaiah 26:9
God’s judgments are redemptive. He reveals to the unbeliever the evil of their rebellion, as well as the evil done to them, leading them to humility and ultimately salvation. Just as with believers, God uses evil experiences to bring unbelievers to an end of self, preparing them to receive the gift of Christ’s salvation.
3. Evil as Preparation for Glory
It’s important to remember that we are not saved because we overcome evil. We are saved solely by Christ’s finished work. But our evil experiences shape us. They prepare our hearts to appreciate the riches of grace. They help us understand what it means to be truly free, not by our efforts, but by God’s intervention.
We experience defeat so we can celebrate Christ’s victory.
We encounter sin and death so we can rejoice in their defeat.
We endure evil so we can marvel at God’s ultimate goodness.
4. Religion vs. True Faith
Religion often teaches that we must conquer evil and improve ourselves to be worthy of God. But that is self-effort masquerading as faith. True faith recognizes that our trials are not tests to prove ourselves—but tools God uses to reveal Himself. God doesn’t expect us to fix ourselves—He intends to rescue us.
As Philippians 2:13 reminds us:
“It is God who is working in you, both to will and to do according to His good pleasure.”
Even our will is God’s work, not our own.
Final Thought: The Endgame Is God’s Glory
Ultimately, salvation is about God becoming “All in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). And every experience—good or evil—is leading us toward that glorious reality. God is shaping each one of us, through Christ, to fully reflect His glory.
Grace and peace to you all!
Saved ignoble 
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