Why Evil Exists

I . The problem of evil is the greatest problem faced by Christians today.

Syllogism : God created everything. Evil is in the world. Therefore God created evil.

Genesis 1: 31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Colossians 1: 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. John 1: 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Ezekiel 28: 12b-14 You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared.

Isaiah 14: 12-15 How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' 15 Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.

God didn’t create evil; He created free choice.

II . Without the freedom to choose, there can be neither love nor good.

Psalms 97: 9 For you, Lord, are the most high over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. Psalms 135: 6 The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the Heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.

Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. …” Matthew 19: 26 Jesus looked at him and said, ‘With man this is impossible, But with God all things are possible.

Hebrews 4: 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Isaiah 46: 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ' My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

Psalms 139: 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. Jeremiah 1: 4-5 The word of the Lord came to me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

III . God can use evil to bring about His good purposes.

Romans 9: 19-22 You will say to me then, " Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?

John 9: 1-4 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, " Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work."

James 1: 2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Genesis 50: 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.   Romans 8: 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

IV . The worst event in all of human history brought about the greatest benefit ever.

The crucifixion of God’s only Son was the worst. History is replete with horrible events.   The crucifixion of God’s only Son was the worst.

However, the vicarious suffering of Jesus gave man the victory over death and the grave.

Have you received the pardon that Jesus purchased for you on the cross ?

Remember why Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cruel cross.

Even when we don’t understand what is going on, come what may, we know that the creator God who loves us is in control.