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God’s Sovereignty

God’s Sovereignty. And the Existence of Evil. Recap from 2 weeks ago. War in us as believers: Romans 7:15-21 God’s wisdom always wins: 1 Corinthians 1:25 Our hearts are deceitful: Jeremiah 17:9 We must renew our minds: Romans 12:2. The Nature of Our Reality.

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God’s Sovereignty

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  1. God’s Sovereignty And the Existence of Evil

  2. Recap from 2 weeks ago • War in us as believers: Romans 7:15-21 • God’s wisdom always wins: 1 Corinthians 1:25 • Our hearts are deceitful: Jeremiah 17:9 • We must renew our minds: Romans 12:2

  3. The Nature of Our Reality • Jesus sustains everything: Hebrews 1:3 • God actively controls His creation • Star movement (Job 38:32) • Weather (Matthew 5:45) • Feeding animals (Matthew 6:26) • Plant growth (Matthew 6:28-30) • Animal death (Matthew 10:29) • “Random” chance (Proverbs 16:33)

  4. God’s Control of Humanity • When & where nations exist: Acts 17:26 • Who rules the nations: Romans 13:1 • Decisions of rulers: Proverbs 21:1 • Birth and death of people: Job 12:10 • People’s handicaps: Exodus 4:11 • People’s prosperity: 1 Samuel 2:6-7 • People’s words and actions: Proverbs 16:1, Jeremiah 10:23

  5. Then why is there evil? • Many of us have heard, asked or been exposed to this question. • Underlying assumption: God’s sovereignty and evil’s existence contradict each other • Is this assumption accurate?

  6. Natural Evil vs. Moral Evil • Natural evil does not involve direct human actions • Jonah 1:4 • Joshua 10:11 • Zechariah 14:17 • Exodus 9:8 • Genesis 6-9 • God is in control of all of this

  7. Moral Evil • Moral evil = sin, a transgression of God’s law • Does God ordain that men will sin? • First understand: • Everything God does is righteous and just • Deuteronomy 32:3-4 • Psalm 145:17

  8. Moral Evil • This same God did all this: • Sent evil spirits to torment King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14, 18:10, 19:9) • Sent an evil spirit to cause a war between King Abimelech and the men of Shechem, resulting in Abimelech’s death (Judges 9:22-57) • Sent a lying spirit to cause Ahab’s prophets to lie to him (1 Kings 22:19-23)

  9. Moral Evil • God controls Satan and his demons • Job 1-2 • 2 Corinthians 12:7 • Mark 1:27 & Luke 4:36

  10. Moral Evil • So, does God ordain sin? • Leviticus 6:2-7 & 1 Kings 22:23 • Genesis 12:3 & Psalm 105:25 • Exodus 5:1 & Exodus 4:21 • 2 Samuel 24:10 & 2 Samuel 24:1

  11. Moral Evil • What about James 1:13? • The structure of the Greek is properly rendered “and He Himselfdoesn’t tempt anyone” • Satan is the active agent in temptation (Acts 5:1-3, Matthew 4:1-11, Genesis 3:1-6) • God controls Satan • Compare 2 Samuel 24 & 1 Chronicles 21

  12. Why? • Everything exists for His glory (Isaiah 43:7) • God demonstrates His glory to us (Romans 9:23) through the greatest act of love (John 15:13) • God determined to do this before creating anything (1 Peter 1:18-20) • But without sin, there is no need for sacrifice. Jesus could be our sacrifice because He was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21)

  13. Can a good God do all this? • Everything God does is perfect and just. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 & Psalm 145:17) • Evil is not good. This would be a contradiction. Evil is evil and sin is sin. • God ordaining the beginning and continued existence of evil and sin is good and necessary.

  14. Next Steps • Memorize Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

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