Spotswood Baptist Church
Why? Why Did God Allow This?
Locations & Times
Spotswood Baptist Church
4009 Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg, VA 22408, USA
Sunday 8:55 AM
Sunday 10:15 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM
Why? Why Did God Allow This?
Theodicy problem: Why doesn't an all-good God prevent evil?
In this world you will have trouble. --John 16:33 (ESV)
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. --1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! --1 Corinthians 13:12 (AMP)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. --Genesis 1:31 (ESV)
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. --Romans 8:22 (ESV)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
2. may be used for good by God.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. --Romans 8:28 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day]. --Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
2. may be used for good by God.
3. will one day be removed by God.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. --2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. --Romans 8:18 (ESV)
But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.' --1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
2. may be used for good by God.
3. will one day be removed by God.
4. Can cause us to turn on God or turn to God.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. --John 16:33 (ESV)
God's ultimate answer to suffering isn't an explanation; it's the incarnation.
"The Incarnation is God's definitive answer to the emotional problem of evil. The living God is not a detached observer or absentee landlord. He doesn't stand aloof from the suffering and pain and evil that forms the central tension of his epic. The God who is born is also the God who bleeds, the God who dies, the God who identifies with out sorrows by becoming the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief." --John Piper
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. --Hebrews 4:15-16 (AMP)
Theodicy problem: Why doesn't an all-good God prevent evil?
In this world you will have trouble. --John 16:33 (ESV)
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. --1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! --1 Corinthians 13:12 (AMP)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. --Genesis 1:31 (ESV)
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. --Romans 8:22 (ESV)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
2. may be used for good by God.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. --Romans 8:28 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day]. --Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
2. may be used for good by God.
3. will one day be removed by God.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. --2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. --Romans 8:18 (ESV)
But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.' --1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)
Evil and suffering...
1. did not originate with God.
2. may be used for good by God.
3. will one day be removed by God.
4. Can cause us to turn on God or turn to God.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. --John 16:33 (ESV)
God's ultimate answer to suffering isn't an explanation; it's the incarnation.
"The Incarnation is God's definitive answer to the emotional problem of evil. The living God is not a detached observer or absentee landlord. He doesn't stand aloof from the suffering and pain and evil that forms the central tension of his epic. The God who is born is also the God who bleeds, the God who dies, the God who identifies with out sorrows by becoming the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief." --John Piper
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. --Hebrews 4:15-16 (AMP)