Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
Tonight we conclude our Asking For a Friend series with a question I’ve heard a thousand times
a question most of you have probably asked yourself or wondered
“Why do bad things happen to good people?”
This isn’t a new question
People have been asking this for thousands of years
sometimes shouting it
sometimes whispering it through tears
And the good news for us is that he Bible doesn’t shy away from it
We have scriptures like
How long, Lord? Will you forget me
forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
or
How long, Lord, must I call for help
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence
and you do not save?
Time after time we see God’s people asking where He is in their suffering
why this bad thing is happening
TENSION
TENSION
So to answer this question I want to point you to 3 things tonight
Three things that clarify and answer this popular and difficult question
TRUTH
TRUTH
The Problem: No One is Truly Good
See the problem is that we start by assuming the wrong thing:
that there really are “good people.”
But Scripture says otherwise…
as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
We all sin
Some people may look “better” than others
but that doesn’t make anyone truly good before a holy God
Except—there was one
“Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once—and He volunteered.”
- R. C. Sproul
The Cross: The Truly Good One Who Suffered
The only truly good person to ever live was Jesus
yet he chose to step into a suffering world where he would suffer for our sake
He was innocent, but He suffered on purpose
for us
for our salvation
He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
Jesus, the only perfect, good person to ever live didn’t just face suffering
He volunteered for it
Out of love for you and me, He took on sin, shame, and the cross so that we could be forgiven
The Hope: A Savior Who Understand and Overcomes
The good news is that Jesus didn’t just die
He rose from the grave
And that brings us hope
hope in two major ways:
Jesus understands our suffering
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
When we go through suffering
when bad things happen to us or around us
and we go to the Lord with it
we are not praying to a God who is distant or not understanding
We are praying to a Savior who knows grief
betrayal,
pain,
and loss
He understand us and our feelings in the midst of suffering
2. Jesus has overcome our suffering
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
Jesus has overcome sin, death, and all that the suffering that come with a life in this world
We can have peace, hope, and be courageous in the midst of suffering not because we are strong but because our savior has overcome
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Not only has He overcome the world but one day he will redeem the world
he will make all things new
and there will be no more pain and suffering
That is a hope worth looking forward too
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
So, why do bad things happen to good people?
The truth is… they don’t
None of us are truly good.
But it did happen once
To Jesus… and He volunteered.
And because of Him, we don’t just have an answer
we have hope.
Jesus suffered for us
Jesus suffers with us
and Jesus has overcome suffering on our behalf.
RESPONSE
RESPONSE
If you’re suffering right now, go to Jesus
He understands you
If you’re doubting, trust Him
He’s overcome for you
If you’re searching for hope, it’s only found in Jesus.
