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Summary: How can a loving God allow innocent people to be hurt? This sermon uses 7 pillars of truth about God as the foundation to give 7 Reasons why God Allows Suffering.

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GOD’S NOT DEAD PART I

Unbeliever’s Question: A God who allows horrible tragedies to happen to innocent people is not a god to worship. How can a loving God allow innocent people to be hurt so badly? Question 1 has been asked so frequently by non believers that I cannot imagine there is a single Christian who has not heard this question used by an atheist to argue that God does not exist! It truly is a difficult question because it does not have an easy answer!

Why did God allow Hitler to have over six million Jewish people put to death in World War II?

Why did God allow the great plague of London in 1666 occur with about 100,000 deaths?

Why does God allow famines in Africa to claim the innocent lives of so many children?

Why does God allow approximately 200,000 new cancer diagnosis per year in Canada alone?

Why did God allow the Twin Towers in New York to be hit and countless lives lost?

Why does God allow evil to exist?

Seven Pillars of Truth about God

1 Corinthians 13:12 states we only see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror. We know our knowledge is incomplete. So when you speak about God to another begin by stating there are many things about God that you truthfully do not know. This will keep you from stating you know everything when in fact faith is required because there are many things that are beyond our knowledge. I believe in things that are unseen and as such are not provable by physical laws of nature. There are many things about God that He has chosen to not reveal about Himself. Some things are certain about God such as the following:

1. Righteous. God’s character is loving, good and righteous. Genesis 18:25 states “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

2. Freedom. God has given us freedom to choose to love or reject Him. Since you are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), like God you have the freedom to make choices. The problem with having the ability to choose is that one is also held accountable. Deuteronomy 30:10 states “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set up before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.”

3. Fallen. This freedom led to a fallen world with evil, sin and real dangers. Romans 5:12 states “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

4. Desire. God intensely desires to restore fellowship with us. Isaiah 1:18 states “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”

5. His Son. God’s love was so great for us that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to restore that relationship. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

6. Sin Remains. In our fleshly body and physical world sin remains. Galatians 5:17 states “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”

7. Resurrect. In His resurrection Christ defeated sin. Hebrews 10:10 states “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all

Illustration. Talk about a baby with severe diaper rash. You take your child to the doctor and he/she prescribes baths and ointments which of course require rubbing of towels and hands on the buttocks. Do you really think the baby understands when you have to apply the ointment or dry with the towel? Maybe but very unlikely the baby would understand anything but the pain he/she is experiencing. He/she are unlikely to know that there is bacteria living inside their skin that left unchecked will get more and more painful and could lead to death. In a similar manner when God offers the narrow path many avoid it because they feel the brokenness and pain of this world is all that can be obtained. Instead of embracing God’s help the atheists asks this wonderful molder of clay “why did you make us like this?” (Romans 9:20). The real question should be why do you rebel against He who can heal you?

7 Points Explaining Why Evil Happens to the Innocent

Point 1: Evil is Real and People are Blinded by their Sin

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

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