Evil's Conclusion: The Justification of Sin

The End of Evil: God's Ultimate Justification

Evil has an end. It will not endure in God’s universe forever. One powerful way to grasp this truth is to reflect on the justification of sin—how God, in His sovereignty, makes all things right, even the darkest of human actions.

Take Judas Iscariot, for example. His name is synonymous with betrayal. He handed over the Son of God—with a kiss. It was the greatest act of treachery in history. And yet, this act was not random or unforeseen. God ordained it as the very means by which Christ would reach the cross.

Judas realized the gravity of his sin and took his own life. Yet, his betrayal had been prophesied long before it happened. Jesus Himself even told Judas, “What you are doing, do more quickly” (John 13:27). And Scripture makes it clear: Satan had to enter Judas for the betrayal to happen. Can anyone still claim Judas acted from free will?

“And after the morsel, then Satan entered into him. Jesus, then, is saying to him, ‘What you are doing, do more quickly.’” – John 13:27

“Not concerning all of you am I speaking, for I am aware whom I choose, but that the scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who is eating bread with Me lifts up his heel against Me.’” – John 13:18

Judas fulfilled prophecy. He played the exact role God had determined. He couldn’t have acted otherwise. So what becomes of Judas? Will he carry the stain of betrayal forever? Will we whisper in eternity, “There he is—the one who betrayed Jesus?”

Or will God justify Judas’s actions, since they were necessary to fulfill God’s redemptive plan? In the fullness of time—or more precisely, at the consummation of the ages—God will transform even the betrayer’s sin into a righteous act, not because betrayal is good, but because it accomplished His divine purpose.

God works all things in accord with His will (Ephesians 1:11). He is the Potter, we are the clay. Every choice, every event, every life is molded by Him (Romans 9:11–13). When sin, death, and evil are finally abolished, what remains is the reality that Judas acted in line with God’s will. And the act itself will be justified—not as morally good in isolation, but as essential to God's plan.

The same truth applies to all evil. Joseph said to his brothers: “What you meant for evil, God meant for good” (Genesis 50:20). Evil served God’s purpose to save Israel. And in the end, evil itself will be no more. Death will be no more. All that will remain is God, glorified in all His creatures. Every act—including the worst—will be justified because it was used by God to perfect His creation.

Let’s take it a step further and imagine the justification of murder. It’s one of the most heinous acts. But imagine if the murdered person were made alive again. More than that—what if the experience of death had actually benefited them, deepened their joy, and led to transformation? The act of murder, while terrible, would take on a new dimension. It would serve a greater good. Humanity can’t do that—but God can.

Now consider the ultimate example: the murder of Jesus Christ. The very One through whom all things were made was tortured and killed by His creation. And yet, this too was the plan of God for the salvation of the world.

Jesus submitted to death—even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). And what happened next? He was raised, exalted, and made immortal. He became the firstborn of a new creation—one that would never die. Through the very act of crucifixion, Jesus secured immortality for all creation.

What He gained through suffering and death, He now shares with every creature.

“Therefore, God also highly exalts Him and graces Him with the name above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow—in heaven, on earth, and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:9–11

The worst evil ever committed—the crucifixion of Christ—resulted in the greatest glory: the reconciliation and perfection of all creation. In the end, Jesus is glorified, His creation is redeemed, and even His murder is justified in the blood that saved the world.

This is the final answer to evil. Christ reigns until every enemy is beneath His feet. Then what?

“For He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death.” – 1 Corinthians 15:25–26

Christ’s reign ends not because He fails, but because His mission is complete. Every enemy—sin, evil, death—is abolished. Not imprisoned. Not quarantined. Not punished forever. Abolished. If even one creature remains in a so-called eternal hell, then an enemy still exists, and God’s purpose has failed. But that cannot be.

When every enemy is abolished, Christ hands the kingdom back to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:27–28). Why? Because no creature needs reigning over. Each one has been perfected. Each one now has God as their All.

This is the end of evil. The triumph of grace. The justification of every act in the light of God’s eternal purpose.

All that remains is a universe filled with God—complete, perfected, and glorified.