The End of Suffering

The Atheist’s Challenge Epicurus: Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil? If God is both Good and All-Powerful, why does He allow suffering?

Suffering in Scripture “The reason why biblical Christianity is the only ultimate answer [to suffering] is because it is the only worldview, the only religion that has answered the problem of sin and suffering completely and finally. The Bible hits the problem of suffering [on the] head and shows how God has answered it. Scripture does not ignore it, skirt around it, downplay it, weaken it, or excuse it. It does, however, show why it is here and how it has been dealt with by God” Doy Moyer, FC Lectures 2013

Suffering As a theme in scripture Understanding God’s glory and holiness Understanding God’s sovereignty, wisdom & knowledge Understanding man’s purpose God’s answer to suffering

Suffering in Scripture Cain’s murder of Abel Gen 5. “And he died” Flood Wars, murders, adulteries, judgements New Testament revolves around Jesus’ suffering on the cross Epistles predict the suffering of the disciples

God’s glory and holiness 1 Cor. 10:31b “do all to the glory of God.” Rom 4:20 “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,” 1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

God’s glory and holiness Sin is the opposite of glorifying God Rom 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

God’s glory and holiness Heaven is heaven because of God’s glorious presence. Hell is hell because of His absence The real joy of heaven is that God is there; the real pain of hell is that God isn't there Earthly suffering: Isa. 59:2 “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”

God’s sovereignty, wisdom & knowledge God has a right to show that sin is terrible God has a right to inflict suffering To be just and to discipline To demonstrate the folly of sin God has a right to give and take life Deut. 32:39 “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”

Man’s purpose If there are no consequences for ignoring or violating the image into which we are made, then that image — God’s image — would be minimized and inconsequential. 

God’s Answer to Suffering Suffering Servant That God has not ignored the problem of suffering is most evident in the advent of the Suffering Servant. This is God Himself entering into suffering, taking upon Himself the suffering due to sin.  Is. 53 Phil 2 “form of a servant” 1 Pet. 2:21-25 uses language of Is. 53

God’s Answer to Suffering Suffering Servant He took on suffering so that we don’t suffer eternally He suffered that we might come to God

God’s Answer to Suffering The Resurrection Suffering and death are the consequences of sin Resurrection is the reversal of those consequences Jesus’ resurrection Opens the door to Heaven Guarantees our resurrection

God’s Answer to Suffering 1 Co 15:53-57 “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”

God’s Answer to Suffering Rev 22:3 And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him;