Good things can happen to bad people for God's reputation, to allow for their restoration, and for the sake of God's righteousness. God works to defend his name and character among other people and nations. He withdraws punishment and shows mercy for his own righteousness. While people are sinful, God redeems them for the worth of his own righteousness. God's goodness leads to repentance, and those who are called by his name must depart from wickedness and live responsibly.

1. Why do bad things happen to bad people?
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why do good things happen to bad
people?
Eccl 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.
Jude 1
20 But ye, beloved, buildingup yourselves on your most holy faith,
prayingin the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christunto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the
garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and
power, both now and ever. Amen.
Oskar Schindler: Power is when we have every
justification to kill, and we don't.
Amon Goeth: You think that's power?
Oskar Schindler: That's what the Emperor said. A man
steals something, he's brought in before the Emperor, he
throws himself down on the ground. He begs for his life, he
knows he's going to die. And the Emperor... pardons him.
This worthless man, he lets him go.
Amon Goeth: I think you are drunk.
Oskar Schindler: That's power, Amon. That is power.

2. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Phil 2
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Why do good things happen to bad people?
I. Reputation
Exod 32:12 Wherefore shouldthe Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief
did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume
them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of
this evil against thy people.
Num 14:13 And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall
hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from
among them;)
Josh 7:9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall
hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the
earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
1Sam 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's
sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
Why do good things happen to bad people?
Reputation
II. Restoration
Greatsin can only be pardoned by an even Greater Name
Ps 25:11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

3. Ps 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name:
and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
Ps 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he
might make his mighty power to be known.
Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for
mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Jer 14:7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it
for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned
againstthee.
Why do good things happen to bad people?
Reputation
Restoration
III. Righteousness
Ps 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy
righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Isa 37:35 For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for
my servant David's sake.
Isa 48:9-11 9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my
praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
10 Behold, I have refinedthee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the
furnace of affliction.
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how
should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto
another.
Jer 14:9 Why shouldestthou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that
cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called
by thy name; leave us not.

4. Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was
unto me the joy and rejoicingof mine heart: for I am called by thy name,
O LORD God of hosts.
A. Wrought for Righteousness
Ezek 20:14 But I wroughtfor my name's sake, that it should not be
polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
B. Withdrawal for Righteousness
Ezek 20:22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my
name's sake, that it shouldnot be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in
whose sight I brought them forth.
C. Worth of Righteousness
Ezek 36:21-22 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of
Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do
not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake,
which ye have profanedamong the heathen, whither ye went.
Dan 9:18-19 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes,
and behold our desolations, and the city which is calledby thy name: for
we do not presentour supplications before thee for our righteousnesses,
but for thy great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for
thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy
name.
Why do good things happen to bad people?
Reputation
Restoration
Righteousness

5. IV. Rejoicing and Responsibility
1Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are
sanctifiedin ChristJesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Ezek 39:7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people
Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the
heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
2Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, havingthis
seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth
the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Exod 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;
for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Rom 2
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering; not knowingthat the goodnessof God leadeth thee to
repentance?
Why do good things happen to bad people?
I. Reputation
II. Restoration
III. Righteousness
A. Wrought for Righteousness
B. Withdrawal for Righteousness
C. Worth of Righteousness
IV. Rejoicing and Responsibility