Craig Smith • Evil and Suffering • March 26, 2023

…Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Gen. 18:25)

Evil: the argument against God – “If God exists (all good, all powerful, all-loving), then evil should not exist. However, evil does exist. Therefore, God does not exist.”

• Evil/suffering is an illusion (

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• Evil/Suffering is random, cosmic bad luck (

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The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 53:1a)

Evil: the argument for God – “To say there is moral ‘evil’ is to admit there is moral ‘good.’ Thus, there exists a moral law that defines good and evil. If there is a moral law, then there must be a moral Lawgiver – God”…

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good…” (Matt. 19:17)

What does the Bible say?

•Evil was not **

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or

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by God – “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” (James 1:13)

• Evil is caused by a

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world and a spiritual

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– “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Gen. 6:5)

Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (Acts 19:16)

• God

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too – “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” (Mark 8:31)

• God can bring

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out of

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– “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:20)

• Evil and suffering have an

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– “…They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away 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.” (Rev. 21:3-4)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9)

Christianity finds hope in the

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who is greater than the

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– Jesus…

…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)