Presentation on theology of God proper by Todd Linn, PhD; The Providence of God

1. The Providence
of God

2. Two Types of Providence:
1. General Providence
2. Special Providence

3. General Providence
“God’s watchcare over all creation.”
Psalm 22:28,
“For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He
rules over the nations.”
Proverbs 16:33,
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its
every decision is from the Lord.”

4. Matthew 5:45,
“He [God] makes His sun rise on
the evil and the good, and sends
rain on the just and on the unjust.”

5. Special Providence
“God’s involvement in the
particular lives of His children.”
Psalm 4:8,
“Your Father knows the things you
have need of before you ask Him.”

6. Philippians 4:19,
“And my God shall supply all your
need according to His riches in
glory by Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 5:7,
“Cast your care upon Him, for He
cares for you.”

7. The Inevitable Question . . .
“If God created
everything and is in
control of everything, did
He create evil, and why
does he allow evil to
exist?”

9. One way of dealing with this
1. God made everything perfect.
2. One of the perfect things God made
was free creatures.
3. Free will is the cause of evil.
4. So, imperfection (evil) can arise from
perfection (not directly, but indirectly
through freedom).

10. But why can’t evil be stopped?
1. If God is all-good, He would destroy
evil.
2. If God is all-powerful, He could
destroy evil.
3. But evil is not destroyed.
4. Hence, there is no such God.

11. RESPONSE:
1. If God is all-good, He will defeat
evil.
2. If God is all-powerful, He can
defeat evil.
3. Evil is not yet defeated.
4. Therefore, God can and will one
day defeat evil.

12. Are there good reasons why God
would permit evil?
1. To make us perfect
James 1:2-4:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you
fall into various trials, knowing that
the testing of your faith produces
patience. But let patience have its
perfect work, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing.”

13. Are there good reasons why God
would permit evil?
2. To bring about in us perseverance,
proven character, and hope.
Romans 5:3-4:
“ . . . But we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces
perseverance; and perseverance,
character, and character, hope.

14. 3. So that God might be able to
demonstrate His highest expression of
love.
John 15:13, “Greater love has no one
than this, than to lay down one’s life for
his friends.”
Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His
own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

15. Are there good reasons why God
would permit evil?
4. To warn us of greater evils.
5. To keep us from self-destruction.
6. As judgment and punishment for sin.
7. To save lives (Genesis 50:20)

16. Genesis 50:20:
“But as for you, YOU meant evil against
me; but GOD meant it for good, in order
to bring it about as it is this day, to save
many people alive.”

17. Are there good reasons why God
would permit evil?
8. That we might comfort others.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 . . .

18. “Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our tribulation, that
we may be able to comfort those who
are in any trouble, with the comfort
with which we ourselves are
comforted by God.”

19. Sometimes we just have to accept the
“mystery” of it all
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
(2 Corinthians 5:7)

20. Payload Commander
Michael Anderson
(Died in 2003 Shuttle Accident)
"Rick and I both
feel that we were
put on this mission
together for a
reason, and we've
tried to meet all
those challenges
with prayer, and
God has been very
good at answering
our prayers,"

21. Payload Commander
Michael Anderson
(Died in 2003 Shuttle Accident)
"But we'd just like to
really ask for your
prayers as we get ready
to go on this 16-day
mission — and not only
prayers for a safe flight
but also that, in some
small way, we can use
this platform as a way to
really let people know
what we believe and to
really let God's message
get out there."

22. Have Faith in God
“Have faith in God when your
pathway is lonely, He sees and
knows all the way you have
trod; Never alone are the least of
His children; Have faith in God,
have faith in God.”

23. “Have faith in God, He’s on
His throne; Have faith in
God, He watches o’er His
own; He cannot fail, He must
prevail; Have faith in God,
have faith in God.”

24. “Have faith in God in your pain
and your sorrow, His heart is
touched with your grief and
despair; Cast all your cares and
your burdens upon Him, And
leave them there, oh, leave them
there.”

25. “Have faith in God, He’s on
His throne; Have faith in
God, He watches o’er His
own; He cannot fail, He must
prevail; Have faith in God,
have faith in God.”

26. “Have faith in God tho’ all else
fail about you; Have faith in
God, He provides for His own;
He cannot fail tho’ all kingdoms
shall perish, He rules, He reigns,
upon His throne.”

27. “Have faith in God, He’s on
His throne; Have faith in
God, He watches o’er His
own; He cannot fail, He must
prevail; Have faith in God,
have faith in God.”