Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Why Do The Righteous Suffer ?

Job Lost Everything !!!

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job 1:21

Wife said --- “bid God farewell !”

Job said “Are we willing to serve God only in good times; can’t we honor him even when hardship comes?” [paraphrse]

Why Do The Righteous Suffer ?

Wished he had never been bornOr Wished he had died at birth

Job’s friends argued that he must have sinned !

Suffering is sent as a result of personal sin

Job then said the fault must be with God.The righteous are sufferingThe wicked are prospering

Why Do The Righteous Suffer ?

Epicurus - 342-270 BC – Greek philosopher

If God is Good and all Powerful then he would remove all suffering from this world.

A Good God would not want suffering.An All-powerful God would eradicate this evil.

Since we have suffering then God is either:Not Good orNot All-powerful

Two Flaws with this argument

Two Flaws with this argument

1. An All-Powerful God is limited by his Attributes

God is holy – therefore he cannot lie – Titus 1:2His power is limited by His Goodness

Created man as a being of choice – not robots/machinesFree to do right or wrongWrong choices bring consequences

If all decisions produced same results no one would be motivated to choose good over evil

Two Flaws with this argument

2. Assumes suffering is incompatible with goodness

Jesus is an exampleHe was pure – did not sin - Heb. 4:15God allowed Him to suffer - Heb. 5:8

Paul is an exampleHe was a noble characterEnjoyed the approval of GodBut he had much suffering 2 Cor. 11:23-28

How can God Allow theRighteous to suffer ?

Ideal will of God did not will suffering and misery

Sin of Adam brought death / with death comes suffering

Sin can bring suffering and hardship….

Sin can bring suffering

1. Personal sin can bring heartache and misery

Judges 6:1 - did evil – God delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.” 1 Peter 4:15

Sin can bring suffering

2. Wickedness of others can bring suffering

Terrorists on September 11, 2001

Human rebellion has a ripple effect

Freedom of choice means some choose good

But others make bad choices.

This can bring suffering for others !

Sin can bring suffering

3. Because of disobedience of ancient people

Sins of Adam and Eve –

Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

After the flood there were natural disasters

Sin can bring suffering

4. Cause and effect in a world of natural law

Law of Gravity - Airplane - engines failLuke 13:4 - collapse of a tower

Could God intervene and prevent “accidents” ?

Would render the law system undependable

Chaos would be the result

Benefits of suffering

Shows our human fraility - Psalms 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”

Sharpen real value of things

Can bring forth best qualities of a human being

“revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” Rm.2:5

Sermon by Arthur Pigman

Evans Church of Christ

515 Gibbs Road

Evans, Ga. 30809

706-855-1249

arthurpigman@bellsouth.netarthurpigman@bellsouth.net

www.evansgachurchofchrist.orgwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org

Sunday Evening January 20, 2013