May 7, 2023
The Doubt and the Question:
Why, if God is good and powerful, does evil and suffering even exist?
Why can’t it be a world of no evil, no suffering at all?
The Reasons from Reality
1. The God who exists
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. “
Genesis 1 (NASB1995)
2. The way we are created
“27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Genesis 1:27 (NASB1995)
“26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness … ”
Genesis 1:26 (NASB1995)
“7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
8 The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.”
Genesis 2:7-8 (NASB1995)
“19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
Romans 8:19–21 (NIV)
3. The world as it is
“Cursed is the ground because of you;”
Genesis 3:17 (NASB1995)
4. The answer we await
“… even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
Romans 8:23 (NASB1995)
“13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13–14 (NASB1995)
“20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3:20–21 (NASB1995)
5. The presence we have
“I am with you”
Isaiah 43:2, 5 (NASB1995)
“1 But now … listen to the Lord who created you ... the One who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior …
4 … you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. 5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
Isaiah 43:1–5 (NLT)
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