A Biblical Understanding of Evil (Part 3)

1. A Biblical Understanding of Evil (Part 3) Isaiah 14:12ff; Gen 6:1-8 Rom 1:16-25; 9:14; John 9:1-3 Revelation 21 (Seminar on the Doctrine of Evil)

3. The Problem of Evil 1. If God is all good, he would destroy evil. 2. If God is all powerful, he could destroy evil. 3. But evil is not destroyed. 4. Therefore, there is no such God.

4. Week 1 Isaiah 45:1-7 presents the truth that God creates evil for the purpose of making His Name known.

5. Week 1 Our focus was a gospel-centered approach to the problem of evil.

6. Gospel-Centered Because God’s plan of redemption, like a scarlet thread, runs throughout the Bible we are obligated to seek to relate the problem of evil to the glory of the gospel.

7. Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

8. Week 2 Evil does not stand as an entity or thing outside of God’s sovereign control.

9. Origin of Evil A perfect angelic being with free choice chose himself over God and the by product was that which God called evil (less than God’s best).

10. The Fall of Satan Isaiah 14:12… • How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north…

11. Understanding Evil • Evil is like rust to a car or rot to a tree. It is a lack in good things, but it is not a thing in itself. • Evil is like a wound in an arm or moth-holes in a garment. • It exists only in another but not in itself. Norman L. Geisler

12. Evil Came From(evil comes from) Worshipping the Creature more than the Creator Turn to Romans 1:16-25

13. Sin is falling short Sin is missing the mark God’s Best (glory) Evil is less than God’s Best Evil

14. Adam and Eve Fell Evil includes all the by-products of Adam and Eve’s failure to choose God’s best.

15. Evil as a By-Product • When lumber is cut there is a by-product. • What is that by-product? • What does a good saw mill do?

16. Word of Caution This does not mean that God has obligated Himself to turn all evil into good.

17. Evil Left Evil Revelation 20:10 • And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

18. A Promise for Saved People Romans 8:28 • And we know that all things work together for good to them • that love God, • to them • who are the called according to his purpose.

19. The Problem of Evil (sin) Turn to John 9:1-3

20. God Must Judge Sin And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

21. Judgment of Humanity Adam’s failure to obey God within the bounds of free choice brought the judgment of spiritual death followed by physical death.

22. In a Fallen World In a fallen world it is impossible to have the joy of tubing without the chance of drowning.

23. Ultimately what we would like is a lake where its impossible to drown but you can still tube? We want the ability to make faster and more powerful water toys and still not have to worry about getting hurt.

24. In a Fallen World • Rape is a hideous sin/crime that deserves the harshest of punishment • But before we blame God for a rape let’s think of what would not be possible if God were to eliminate the possibility of rape

25. In a Fallen World In a fallen world we must not blame God for the deaths associated with the weapons humanity creates.

26. In a Fallen World Before we blame God for deaths in a road collapse let’s remember God didn’t demand roads to be built.

27. In A Fallen World • In a fallen world the same spark that starts a fire to save someone from freezing to death can start a forest fire which destroys homes and lives.

28. Question What about natural disasters? Hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides

29. Jeremiah 29:18 • And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

30. Physical Evil (Calamities) Turn to Genesis 6:1-8 A just Judge cannot turn a blind eye toward evil.

31. Think about all the attributes of God that will be magnified for all eternity because of evil.

32. Consider this Idea The reason the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer means so much to me is because I know that left to my own devices I might walk away from God.

33. The Bible reveals that God MAY have used Al-Qaeda to judge America for her sin and then God may have used other armies to judge Al-Qaeda.

34. When we say, “But innocent people died in the twin towers.” We must remember that there is none good no not one (Rom 3).

35. Questioning God When the ultimate giver of life (God) gives life we mustrecognize that He has the right to take life.

36. Remember Job 1

37. Job’s Example Turn to Job 13:15 Notice the word “but”

38. Job is Struggling Job trusts in the Lord! But he still wants to have a conversation with God.

39. The Lord Answer Job Job 38

40. Why does one person live and another die? Turn to Roman 9:14-23

41. Conclusion Turn to Revelation 21

42. Our Future 2 Peter 3:13 • Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

43. Revelation 21 Vs. 1, 8, & 27

44. In the Future Perhaps an earth that is not cursed will permit us to rock climb without the fear of falling.