Why God?!- The Problem of Evil, Part 2

Selected Scriptures

Introduction: The problem of evil poses perhaps the greatest stumbling block for individuals and the church historically and present.Read Job 1-2:1-10. Prayer.

  1. A Tragic Illustration:

TheSeptember 11 attacks(also referred to as9/11)[nb 1]were a series of four coordinatedterrorist attacksby theIslamic terroristgroupal-Qaedaon theUnited Stateson the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attackskilled 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.[2][3]

  1. MOORE, Okla., May 20 (Reuters) - A 2-mile-wide (3-km-wide) tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 51 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble.
  2. Twenty of the 51 confirmed deaths were children, the Oklahoma medical examiner said, and at least 45 of the 230 people injured were children, according to area hospitals. It was the deadliest U.S. tornado since one killed 161 people in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago.

Need: Many, if we are honest, struggle with some deep questions about God and the problem of evil/suffering that at times touches the very heart and soul of our being.

  1. The Problem of Evil/Suffering Defined:
  1. The biblical God is good.
  2. The biblical God is omnipotent.
  3. The biblical God is omniscient.
  4. Evil exist.
  1. A Logical Syllogism for the Belief that The Biblical God Does not Exist
  1. If God is perfectly good, he would want to prevent all of the evil and suffering in the world.
  2. If God is omniscient, he would know about all of the evil and suffering in the world and would know how to eliminate or prevent it.
  3. If God is omnipotent, he would be able to prevent all of the evil and suffering in the world.
  4. If evil and suffering exist, then God is either not omnipotent, not omniscient, or not perfectly good.
  5. Evil and suffering does exist, therefore the Biblical God does not exist.

Sermon Idea: While the problem of evil/suffering requires much more than superficial answers, the truth bears witness to the existence of the biblical God who is sovereign, good, omnipotent, and omniscient.

  1. Biblical Syllogism for the Biblical God/ Theodicy
  1. God is Good- Selected Scriptures.
  2. God is omnipotent-Selected Scriptures.
  3. God is omniscient-Selected Scriptures.
  4. Evil exists.
  5. Moral Evil
  6. Natural Evil
  7. Supernatural Evil
  8. Therefore, the biblical God allows evil to exist for a greater and higher good. The question is what?
  1. The Free Will Argument by Alvin Plantinga:
  1. The Argument- “God's creation of persons with morally significant free will is something of tremendous value. God could not eliminate much of the evil and suffering in this world without thereby eliminating the greater good of having created persons with free will with whom he could have relationships and who are able to love one another and do good deeds.”
  2. A venerable confession of faith states it rightly: “God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any way to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.”albertmohler.com/2013/05/21/the-goodness-of-god-and-the-reality-of-evil-4/.
  1. The Glory of God Argument: John Piper, John Frame, John MacArthur
  1. The Argument- the biblical God allows evil/suffering to exist for the greatest and highest good of His glory.
  2. The Syllogism:

God is good

God is omnipotent.

God is omniscient.

Evil exist.

God wills evil to exist-

Yes, well, I discuss a number of these terms at some length inDoctrine of God. Certainly God "permits" evil, and I think it's legitimate to use that language. People sometimes think that we should say God "permits" evil, but doesn't bring it about. They think that would alleviate the problem of evil.

The question, though, is whether Godmerelypermits evil, or whether in addition he actually brings evil about in some sense. I think the latter is true. Scripture often says that God brings about sinful decisions of human beings (see above under Question 4). This is a hard teaching, and on one level it makes the problem of evil more difficult. But in another sense, this teaching is reassuring. If evil comes from some source other than God, that would be pretty scary. It would imply that there are forces of evil that are capable of resisting, even overcoming God's desires. But if evil comes from God, we know that he has a good purpose in bringing it about (Rom. 8:28)..

Isaiah 45:5-9:

“I am the Lord, there is no other; besides Me there is no god. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, there is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these.”

Verse 9: “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker – an earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’? Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘To what are you giving birth?’” You cannot say to your father, “Why did you choose to do this without asking me?” or to your mother. That’s the logical and impossible, equally so to question God.

Psalm 5:4:

“You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; and no evil dwells with You.”

Therefore, the biblical God not only allows evil/suffering to exist but wills it to exist for the greatest good and highest good of the glory of God:

  1. Our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God- Romans 3:5.
  2. Our sin demonstrates the incredible love of God- Romans 5:8.
  3. Our struggles, mistakes, even failures demonstrate the enduring, unfailing, love of God- Romans 8:35-39.
  4. Our rebellion demonstrates the holiness of God- Jude 4.
  1. Concluding Thoughts:
  1. When you aware of someone who is hurting because of evil or suffering, there greatest need in that moment is compassionate, caring, presence.
  2. When God opens the door of opportunity, share the love of Jesus.
  3. Get equipped! 1 Peter 3:15.
  4. When you are a recipient of evil or suffering trust God not your circumstances. Fight for it! 1 Corinthians 10:13.
  5. Always remember, God really does love you- John 3:16; Romans 5:8.
  6. Even If Song :

MercyMe: Even If

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I'm losing bad
I've stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it'll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing
When there's nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I'm held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

You've been faithful, You've been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
‘Cause I know You're able
I know You can

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul.

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