2. Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

3. Why Do The Righteous Suffer ? Job Lost Everything !!! "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21 Wife said --- “bid God farewell !” Job said “Are we willing to serve God only in good times; can’t we honor him even when hardship comes?” [paraphrse]

4. Why Do The Righteous Suffer ? Wished he had never been born Or Wished he had died at birth Job’s friends argued that he must have sinned ! Suffering is sent as a result of personal sin Job then said the fault must be with God. The righteous are suffering The wicked are prospering

5. Why Do The Righteous Suffer ? Epicurus - 342-270 BC – Greek philosopher If God is Good and all Powerful then he would remove all suffering from this world. A Good God would not want suffering. An All-powerful God would eradicate this evil. Since we have suffering then God is either: Not Good or Not All-powerful Two Flaws with this argument

6. 1. An All-Powerful God is limited by his Attributes God is holy – therefore he cannot lie – Titus 1:2 His power is limited by His Goodness Created man as a being of choice – not robots/machines Free to do right or wrong Wrong choices bring consequences If all decisions produced same results no one would be motivated to choose good over evil

7. Two Flaws with this argument 2. Assumes suffering is incompatible with goodness Jesus is an example He was pure – did not sin - Heb. 4:15 God allowed Him to suffer - Heb. 5:8 Paul is an example He was a noble character Enjoyed the approval of God But he had much suffering 2 Cor. 11:23-28

8. How can God Allow the Righteous to suffer ? Ideal will of God did not will suffering and misery Sin of Adam brought death / with death comes suffering Sin can bring suffering and hardship….

9. Sin can bring suffering 1.Personal sin can bring heartache and misery Judges 6:1 - did evil – God delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.” 1 Peter 4:15

10. Sin can bring suffering 2. Wickedness of others can bring suffering Terrorists on September 11, 2001 Human rebellion has a ripple effect Freedom of choice means some choose good But others make bad choices. This can bring suffering for others !

11. Sin can bring suffering 3. Because of disobedience of ancient people Sins of Adam and Eve – Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” After the flood there were natural disasters

12. Sin can bring suffering 4. Cause and effect in a world of natural law Law of Gravity - Airplane - engines fail Luke 13:4 - collapse of a tower Could God intervene and prevent “accidents” ? Would render the law system undependable Chaos would be the result

13. Benefits of suffering Shows our human fraility - Psalms 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” Sharpen real value of things Can bring forth best qualities of a human being

16. “revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” Rm.2:5

17. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249arthurpigman@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening January 20, 2013