Doctrine: The Decrees of God

Order of Service

• Sunday School Lesson
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Decrees of God and the Problem of Evil

Scripture: Romans 8:28

I. Defining and Personalizing the Problem of Evil

A. Standard formulation: if God is all-good and all-powerful, he would not allow evil to exist B. The problem is not merely philosophical — it is deeply personal for people

1. Questions arise from real suffering: the death of a child, prolonged war, personal trauma
2. We must not brush over the reality of evil when engaging with hurting people C. Two framing questions to open the conversation
3. What do you mean by evil?
4. What do you believe about God?

II. Maintaining Two Truths Simultaneously

A. Evil is real and must be called what it is

1. Real suffering, real trauma, and real wickedness exist in the world and in our own lives
2. Romans 8:28 is not meant to sweep the reality of evil under the rug B. We must not remake God in our own image
3. Psalm 50:21 — "You thought that I was one like yourself, but now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you"
4. God is not indifferent to wickedness; he will rebuke and deal with it C. A counter-question for the skeptic: in a world without God, how is there any good at all?
5. Without God, the existence of evil leaves us with no foundation for morality
6. God restrains wickedness in part through the conscience he has placed in all people

III. The Decrees of God Illustrated in Israel's History

A. Psalm 105:23-25 — the Lord turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate his people B. Exodus 1:8-14 — the historical account: a new Pharaoh arose and ruthlessly enslaved Israel C. Exodus 2:23-25 — the consequence of their suffering: Israel groaned and cried out to God

1. The Lord used hard providences to draw his people to himself
2. Their suffering served his greater redemptive and covenant purpose D. Genesis 50:20 — "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good"
3. God's decree works through and over human evil without himself being the author of evil
4. The permission of evil falls under the umbrella of God's eternal decree centered on Christ

IV. Responding to the Problem of Evil as Believers

A. Follow the pattern of the Psalms: cry out honestly, but end by resting in who God is B. Follow the example of Job — Job 2:10 — "Shall we accept good from God and not evil?" C. Point every discussion ultimately to the cross

1. God ordained the evil that brought about the death of his own Son
2. Christ took on evil in a way no human being ever has or could
3. Evil is decisively dealt with at the cross and will be finally and fully defeated — as seen in the book of Revelation D. The believer's hope: evil will not have the last word
4. Be humble — we cannot always explain exactly why a specific hardship has occurred
5. But by faith, grounded in Romans 8:28, we trust that God is at work refining and sanctifying through suffering
6. Solid theology about who God is equips believers to stand firm when evil is encountered personally