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The Problem of Evil
Man who is born of woman is of few days and full
of trouble Job. 141
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The Problem of Evil
Two Views About God
ATHEIST One who holds there is enough
evidence to conclude that God does not
exist
THEIST One who holds there is enough
evidence to conclude that God does exist
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The Problem of Evil

• God is all powerful
• 2. God is all good
• 3. Evil exists in this world
• 4. Good is opposed to evil in such a way that
  it eliminates all evil.
• 5. No limits to what an all powerful being can
  do.
• 6. A good all powerful being would eliminate
  evil completely.

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The Problem of Evil
Conclusion reached by ATHEIST GOD DOES NOT EXIST

• God is all powerful
• God is Good
• Evil exists

Supposed Logical Contradiction
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The Problem of Evil

• There is suffering all around...
• Questions
• Is God willing but not able ?
• Is God able but not willing ?
• Why do we have suffering ?

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The Problem of Evil
Implications
1. If suffering exists then God does not exist.

2. Suffering exists. 3. Therefore God
does not exist.
The Conclusion of atheists
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The Problem of Evil
Need to Answer

1. What is evil?
2. Limits to what an all powerful being can do
3. It is not the case that a good, all powerful
   being eliminates evil completely

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1. What is Evil ?
Sin is the only real evil... Whosoever commits
sin transgresses also the law for sin is the
transgression of the law 1 Jn. 34 We know
that whatever the law says, it says to those who
are under the law, that every mouth may be
stopped, and all the world may become guilty
before God Rom. 319 Because the law
brings about wrath for where there is no law
there is no transgression Rom. 415
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1. What is Evil ?
Sin is the only real evil... Gal. 519-21
works of flesh adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like
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1. What is Evil ?
It Is Not Evil that Evil Exists

• Impossible to create a man who could not sin
• Free Moral agent. Choice
• Responsible for our own sins.

The Only Real Evil is sin !
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2. Limits To What An All Powerful Being Can Do
Some Logical Impossibilities

• 4 sided triangle - Round square
• Rock so big He cannot lift it

Impossible to create an intelligent free moral
agent and place him in a situation in which he is
beyond all possibility of sinning!
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2. Limits To What An All Powerful Being Can Do
God Wants Man to Love Him

• If you love Me, keep My commandments.
  Jn. 1415
• Must be free moral agents
• Love is voluntary

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2. Limits To What An All Powerful Being Can Do
Mans Choice to Sin Brought Death
For since by man came death, by Man also came
the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 1521
Death brought disease/suffering Jn. 1633
tribulation persecution, trouble Job 141
full of trouble
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2. Limits To What An All Powerful Being Can Do
Mans Choice to Sin Brought Death

• It is true that God made man with the possibility
  that he could sin.
• It was necessary that God make us this way so we
  could choose love Him.
• But God is not responsible for the sins committed
  by man !

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3. Not the Case That a Good, All Powerful Being
Eliminates Evil Completely
God cannot make a man who is a free moral agent,
without giving him the liberty to choose right or
wrong !
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3. Not the Case That a Good, All Powerful Being
Eliminates Evil Completely

• Impossibility to create a man who could not sin.
• - Not that God is not good
• Not that God is weak
• The only real evil in this world is sin. Sin is a
  violation of Gods laws 1 Jn. 34

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3. Not the Case That a Good, All Powerful Being
Eliminates Evil Completely
Could This World Be Improved?
This world is as good as any possible world could
be in serving as mans temporary abiding place.
Natural calamities are not in themselves evil
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3. Not the Case That a Good, All Powerful Being
Eliminates Evil Completely
What Kind of World is Suited for Man?

• Not a pleasure paradise
• Allows man to be free moral agent
• Provides basic physical needs
• Challenges mans intellectual powers
• Challenges man to follow God
• Small in comparison to eternity

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3. Not the Case That a Good, All Powerful Being
Eliminates Evil Completely
God is All Knowing - Omniscient

• God knew man would fall into sin
• God desired to save man from sin Jn. 316
• God knew man would need a place to develop so he
  could come back and obey God.
• God created the world for this purpose

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3. Not the Case That a Good, All Powerful Being
Eliminates Evil Completely
What About Hurricanes?

• World not created as mans permanent dwelling
  place.
• Good for man to realize that life on earth will
  be brief and the exact time it will end is
  uncertain.

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3. Not the Case That a Good, All Powerful Being
Eliminates Evil Completely
Calamities Help Remind Us Of..
Jas. 414 life is short, vapor Matt. 2444 -
exact time of ending is unknown Things Of Earth
Are Temporary Matt. 619-20 1 Tim. 67-8 cant
carry anything out of this world
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4. Why Do the Righteous Suffer ?
1. If automatically removed all problems then
many would obey for that reason - Jn. 1415 2.
God did not promise we would be exempt from
suffering - Jn. 1633 3. Without suffering the
righteous could not sympathize with men 4. Pain
humbles us - 2 Cor. 127 5. Ps. 11971 It is
good for me that I have been afflicted, that I
might learn Thy statutes
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4. Why Do the Righteous Suffer ?
Small in Comparison to Eternity

• Suffering and pain are really small when we think
  about
• Blessings of heaven
• Punishments of hell
• For our light affliction, which is but for a
  moment, is working for us a far more exceeding
  and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 417

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Heaven
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REMISSION OF SINS