God And Suffering Series: Why? Making Sense of God’s Will

Four Foundational Truths: 1. God Is Love

May you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is. Ephesians 3:18 (LB)

Four Foundational Truths: 1. God Is Love 2. God Loves Me

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that Christ died for everyone… 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

Four Foundational Truths: 1. God Is Love 2. God Loves Me 3. We Are To Become Like Christ

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son. Romans 8:29 (NLT)

Four Foundational Truths: 1. God Is Love 2. God Loves Me 3. We Are To Become Like Christ 4. We Live To Please God

Jesus died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT)

Good vs. Evil

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; Genesis 2:15-18

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:15-18

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Genesis 3:22-23 (NIV)

So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. Genesis 3:22-23 (NIV)

We Will Have Trouble: The Fall

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! Luke 13:2-5 (NIV)

Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no!” Luke 13:2-5 (NIV)

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus. John 9:1-4 (NIV)

“but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.” John 9:1-4 (NIV)

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28 (NIV)

Paul & Job: Perspective and Stewardship

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (NIV)

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea…I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 (NIV)

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV)

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV)

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV)

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job 1:20-22

Three Areas Of Broad Suffering: 1. Natural Disasters 2. Human Decisions 3. Sickness

Joni Eareckson Tada

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

Series: Why? Making Sense Of God’s Will God And Suffering