The Fall (Genesis 3) introduced evil and suffering that not only afflicts everyone, but also everything.

1. Romans 8:18-19
I consider that our present sufferings are
not worth comparing with the glory that
will be revealed in us. The creation waits in
eager expectation for the sons of God to be
revealed.
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2. Romans 8:20-21
For the creation was subjected to
frustration, not by its own choice, but by
the will of the One who subjected it, in
hope that the creation itself will be
liberated from its bondage to decay and
brought into the glorious freedom of the
children of God.
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3. Romans 8:22-23
We know that the whole creation has been
groaning as in the pains of childbirth right
up to the present time. Not only so, but we
ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for
our adoption as sons, the redemption of
our bodies.
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4. Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. But hope
that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes
for what he already has? But if we hope for
what we do not have, we wait for it
patiently.
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5. Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought
to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes
for us with groans that words cannot
express. And He Who searches our hearts
knows the mind of the Spirit, because the
Spirit intercedes for the saints in
accordance with God’s will.
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6. No one is IMMUNE to
the problem of evil and
suffering…
“Present sufferings” entails the RANGE of
sufferings people experience.
The POWER of Christianity is not simply in
answering the question of evil and suffering,
but explaining all the cumulative evidence…

7. Evil and suffering do not
provide a REBUTTAL for the
cumulative evidence for
God…
The greatest VIRTUES cannot be developed
outside of pain and suffering
Present sufferings are not reflective of our
FUTURE state as believers, nor was it part of
our ORIGINAL state in the beginning.

8. The Fall (Gen. 3) introduced
evil and suffering that not
only afflicts EVERYONE, but
also EVERYTHING
The difference in suffering is not in the WHO
but the HOW.
We seldom can see the reason FOR it until
we see what God BRINGS from it.

9. An infinite God has
REASONS that we are not
always able to comprehend
If God can take the greatest of EVILS, the
crucifixion of His Son, and bring from that
the greatest of GOODS, not only our
redemption, but the redemption of creation,
then just because we cannot see the
purpose doesn’t mean no explanation exists.

10. Please take a moment to fill out your
Communication Card
My Next Step Today is to:
( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)
( ) Evaluate how I respond to trials
( ) Reflect on lessons learned through
suffering
( ) Consider how I can biblically respond to
the question of evil and suffering
( ) Meditate on Romans 8:18-39
( ) Other________________________