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Dr. Montia Setzler, Lead Pastor  | October 25, 2020
Series: The God Questions
How Can A Good God Allow Suffering?

John 16:33 (HCSB) - “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

1. GOD IS NOT THE            OF EVIL AND SUFFERING

Genesis 1:9–10 (HCSB) - Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land “earth,” and He called the gathering of the water “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:14–18 (HCSB) - Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years. 15 They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights - the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night - as well as the stars. 17 God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, 18 to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:20–21 (HCSB) - Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21 So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:24–25 (HCSB) - Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:26–28 (HCSB) - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

Genesis 1:30–31 (HCSB) - for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth - everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
<ul>
 	<li>Manmade evil, where we do things that hurt others.</li>
 	<li>           evil, things like earthquakes, tornadoes, outbreaks of disease, and such.</li>
</ul>
Romans 8:19–21 (HCSB) - For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility - not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it - in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

2. GOD CAN AND DOES USE SUFFERING TO            GOOD
<ul>
 	<li>God can use pain to            people to Himself.</li>
</ul>
Hebrews 12:17 (HCSB) - For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears. 
<ul>
 	<li>God can use trials to sharpen the character of His children and to help them become more like Jesus Christ.</li>
</ul>
Romans 5:3–5 (HCSB) - And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Hebrews 5:8 (HCSB) - Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. 
<ul>
 	<li>God uses bad            to bring about good ends.</li>
</ul>
Romans 8:28 (HCSB) - We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

3. ONE DAY SUFFERING WILL            AND EVIL WILL BE JUDGED

2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB) - The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

4. SUFFERING IS A            OF LIFE
<ul>
 	<li> God allows suffering for our good.</li>
</ul>
Romans 8:28 (HCSB) - We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 
<ul>
 	<li>God allows suffering to bring          .</li>
</ul>
2 Corinthians 4:17 (HCSB) - For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

Romans 8:18 (HCSB) - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

5. WE            WHETHER OUR PAIN IS GOING TO HARDEN US OR SOFTEN US

John 16:33 (HCSB) - “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Summary of the question of suffering in a broken world:

Act I   God allowed for the possibility of evil and suffering by granting free will to His children.  We chose to experience the evil and suffering.

Act II   God then chose to make a provision for our wrong choices (sin) by sending His Son to pay the penalty for them.

Act III   This payment is now available to all who will admit their need for it and trust Christ.  Because of the destructive power of evil, God will one day say, “Enough!” and judge the world, separating sin, evil, and death from all this is good and from those who have been forgiven of their evil by trusting Christ.

The final Act  The paradise that was lost in the Garden of Eden, chronicled in the book of Genesis, will be fully restored in what Revelation 21:1 calls "a new heaven and a new earth."  And, in keeping with his promise in 2 Peter 3:13, we can look forward to a world "where righteousness dwells."

Assignments:
<ol>
 	<li>Attend our Wednesday night, in-depth discussion groups at <a href="https://bit.ly/TheGodQuestions">https://bit.ly/TheGodQuestions</a>. </li>
 	<li>Read chapters 22-28 of The God Questions.</li>
 	<li>Invite someone to join you next week for “Which Is Right: Evolution or Creation?”</li>
 	<li>Memorize John 16:33.</li>
</ol>

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