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By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

Almost as old as Christianity is the question, “If God is all-knowing (He is), and if God is all-good (He is), and if God is all-powerful (He is), how could He create Satan and allow him to tempt Adam and Eve into rebellion and condemnation?” The answer is found in the theological concept of “Felix Culpa.” Latin for “fortunate fall” or “happy fault,” this concept suggests that their original sin, while inherently wrong, was ultimately permitted by God because it would lead to an even greater good—the redemption of sinners through Christ. In this understanding, the fall becomes a “necessary evil” that sets into motion God’s grand plan of salvation, leading to a state of grace that surpasses even humanity’s originally innocent condition in Eden.

The idea of Felix Culpa famously appears in the “Exsultet,” an ancient Easter proclamation that declares, “O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!” This theological perspective does not minimize the gravity of sin or suggest that evil is good; rather, it recognizes God’s ability to bring greater good from humanity’s greatest sins (Genesis 50:20). Through this lens, the fall becomes the catalyst for a deeper, more mature relationship between God and His elect (chosen ones); a relationship that is proven and perfected through “imputation” (the application of Christ’s righteousness to sinners), rather than existing in an untested state of innocence. The fall allows Christ-followers to understand “good and evil” (Genesis 2:9, 17, 3:1-6) in light of their need for redemption and the depths of divine love through the sacrifice of Christ.

This concept also illuminates the broader Christian understanding of sin and evil in the world. While God does not directly cause sin, He ordains (providentially) that sins and evil occur because they lead to a greater good than would otherwise be possible. In the case of Felix Culpa, humanity’s fall leads to the Incarnation—God becoming “flesh” (John 1:14) in the person of Jesus—bringing about a greater union between God and humanity than existed before the fall. This ultimate good—that sinners may become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4)—represents a quality of grace that far surpasses the original blessings of Eden, demonstrating how God’s redemptive power can transform even the greatest tragedy into the “Good News” of triumph in Christ!Grace and peace, y’all. Soli Deo Gloria