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genesis 3:1-

Introduction:

One of the most persistent arguments against the existence of God is based on the existence of physical and moral evil in the world.

The question that many unbelievers voice is, if God is real, perfectly good, and omnipotent, how can evil exist?

John Frame details the classic “problem of evil” as follows:

Premise 1: If God were all-powerful, he would be able to prevent evil.

Premise 2: If God were all-good, he would desire to prevent evil.

Conclusion: So, if God were both all-powerful and all-good, there would be no evil.

Premise 3: But there is evil.

Conclusion: Therefore, there is no all-powerful, all-good God.

MacArthur, J., & Mayhue, R. (Eds.).

(2017).

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth (p.

222).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

One of the favorite arguments against the God of the Bible and the God of Christianity specifically is the problem of evil.

In other words, How can the God of the Bible portrayed as good and holy and loving allow evil?

And not just evil but massive evil in the world?

And dominant evil in the world?

Now, I find it interesting that this is the question that many skeptics who feel like this is question that disproves the existence of God.

But it’s not…in fact, dealing with the problem with evil is what actually proves the existence of God.

Because only within the pages of this book and within the embraces of a loving savior we actually find the ONLY answer!

If this is you, chances are this message will not help you.

Nothing I say or the Bible says will convince you.

I can only pray that God will, in his mercy, bring you to a point of humility where you have no where to turn but to Him.

I can only promise that you will be accepted.

However, there is another person who asks this question.

It is not out of ridicule or being argumentative.

It is in the pain and suffering of life that we wonder how a loving God would allow us to go through the pain we are currently experiencing.

And this goes for Christians too.

How do we know that God has not abandoned us?

But maybe you’re here today and not a Christian and you are desperately seeking answers to that question.

I hope that you find in this message a beginning.

It will not be a comprehensive review of everything.

But it will be a start of a journey if you are willing to take it.

It is a journey that as you will see ultimately leads us to the cross.

Let’s pray.

This whole section is narrative.

It’s not poetry as some seem to contend.

And it is vitally important that we see this as a historical event.

Otherwise, we have no original sin and we have no answer to the origin of evil, pain and suffering in the world around us.

The syllogism says, “All I need is one case of someone suffering who doesn’t deserve it, to disprove the existence of the Christian God! How can He allow anyone to suffer for righteousness sake when he has the power to prevent it and stands by and does nothing?

He is either not all powerful or corrupted?”

It was actually written in a time when Israel needed an answer to the question of why they were suffering.

They needed hope but they need a reason.

But the truth is if we want to see the truth of why there is evil in the world, we don’t need to look at God, but to look at ourselves.

Big Idea: Don’t Blame God, look within.

1. God created a good world.

In order to understand this we need to look back in chapter 1.

Gen 2:31

This verse is the summary of all of chapter 1 and the story of creation.

After God had created everything, he saw that it was really good.

It throws out the argument that God did the best he could but it still had flaws.

Even Adam and Even were created blameless and innocent.

Sufficient to stand in God’s love.

No earthquakes or hurricanes.

No evil in the heart of man or beasts.

The rest of the 7th day was evidence that no more tweaking needed to be done.

Illustration: Have you ever created something?

And no matter how much you worked at it, it was never quite right.

It was good…but in reality it was only good enough.

Everyone else might look at it and say, “Wow!

That’s awesome!”

But in your mind you question.

That was not the case for God.

His world was perfect.

So for us today, many of us look around and ask, if the world was created good.

If man was created innocent.

If God is loving, all powerful and all knowing....then what happened to His creation?

I’m glad you asked…I’ll let Logan take this one.

2. Adam and Eve sinned bringing consequences.

Logan’s part!

a.

There is natural evil.

(The cursed earth.)

b.

There is moral evil.

(Within us)

c.