Piper On The Origin Of Evil

Said Dr. John Piper in "How Did Evil Begin? PONDERING THE MYSTERY OF SATAN’S FALL" (here - emphasis mine):

"This, to me, is one of the great mysteries of biblical teaching that I cannot explain — how God governs the will of sinful beings, yet, in doing so, does not sin, and does not take away their responsibility. I see that it is true, because the Bible teaches it, but how God does this remains a mystery.

Recall that above I said that “free will” — ultimate self-determination — is the name some people put on this mystery. Then I added that this is not the biblical name. Because the Bible never teaches that there is such a thing as ultimate self-determination, except in God. The Bible doesn’t give the mystery a name. Rather it teaches two truths again and again: God governs the hearts and minds of all sinful beings without himself sinning, and they are truly and justly accountable for all their sins."

I tend to agree with Piper and Spurgeon and others on this question.

Compatibilism

Compatibilism teaches that the following two propositions are both true and mutually compatible, even if we can’t fully reconcile them:

1. God is utterly sovereign, but his sovereignty never functions to mitigate human responsibility.

2. Human beings are morally responsible creatures, but their moral responsibility never functions to make God absolutely contingent.

Said Spurgeon:

"That God predestines, and that man is responsible, are two things that few can see. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory; but they are not. It is just the fault of our weak judgment. Two truths cannot be contradictory to each other.

If, then, I find taught in one place that everything is fore-ordained, that is true; and if I find in another place that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is my folly that leads me to imagine that two truths can ever contradict each other.

These two truths, I do not believe, can ever be welded into one upon any human anvil, but one they shall be in eternity: they are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the mind that shall pursue them farthest, will never discover that they converge; but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring." (New Park Street Pulpit, 4:337)

I cannot become "wise above what is written." I take the plain statements of scripture as my faith whether I can comprehend them or not.