But if I go to the east, He is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find Him. When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. (Job 23:8-9)
#1 and #2: Does God exist? If so, is He good?
• Evil/suffering: the argument
God and His goodness – “If God exists (all-powerful, all- good, all-loving), then evil should not exist. However, evil does exist. Therefore, God does not exist.”*
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” (Psalm 53:1a)
• Evil/suffering: the argument
God and His goodness – “To say there is ‘evil’ is to admit there is ‘good.’ Thus, there exists a moral law that defines good and evil. If there is a moral law, 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. 19:17a)
A few reasons for God’s existence…
• Evidence from creation and design (Psalm 19:1)
• Argument from morality and conscience (Rom. 2:14-15)
• Revelation of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21)
• Person of Jesus (John 1:18)
#3: Does God care?
• Look at your
– “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6-7)
• Look at the
– “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)
#4: Do I trust Him?
…Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Gen. 18:25)
A faith that
be
is a faith that has been
– “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)
