Scripture: Mark 7:15-23

C.I. “…A Good God Who Allows Evil to Exist?”

Epicurus (325 B.C.), “If god wishes to prevent evil but cannot, then he is impotent.
If he could but will not, he is malevolent. If he has both the power and will, whence the evil?”

I. Evil:

A. “Why does God allow evil?!” (Part 1)

1. “If God created all things then God created evil!”
a. But is that what the Bible says? (Quote Gen. 1:31), “And God saw all that He had created….”
1) God made evil possible – when He created mankind with free-will, (Gen. 1:26).
2) But mankind made evil actual – when it chose to act against God’s will, (Gen. 3:6).
3) Relate Joseph’s story – then, (Gen. 50:20), “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good – in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
4) Evil/good are not determined by the outcome, but are the means used to achieve an outcome!

2. “If God is all-powerful why doesn’t He get rid of evil?”
a. God cannot eliminate evil - without also making it impossible for Him to accomplish - other
purposes that are important to Him!
1) To save all who come to Him – (II Pt. 3:9a; Jn. 3:16; Rom. 1:16).
2) Yet it is this same power of volition/choice that is the problem. – For God won’t save anyone
against their will – (Mark 16:16).
b. Yet even those who come to Him – will sometimes make evil choices, (Rom. 3:23).
1) Therefore, if God was to destroy all evil – then all mankind would have to be destroyed!!!

B. Understanding Evil:

1. Two things we must understand about “Evil”:
a. Source (from the Scripture Reading): The human heart.
1) People are not born evil – (Matt. 19:14), “Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder the children from
coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
2) But once we choose sin…– (Rom. 7:9), “I once was alive apart from the Law, but when the
commandment came, sin became alive, and I died (spiritually – Rom. 6:23).”

b. For evil to be stopped - hearts must be changed
1) When man judges evil to be that which comes from the outside and not the inside – he will always be treating the symptom of the disease & not its cause!
2) (Eccl. 9:3), “…the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil, and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives.”
3) (Jer. 17:9), “The heart is more deceitful than all else – and is desperately sick; - who can understand it?”
4) No wonder Jesus says, (Matt. 18:3), “Jesus said, ‘Unless you are converted and become
like children, - you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
C. “Why does God allow evil?” (Part 2)

1. There are several good reasons why God allows evil to continue…
a. To help us learn to depend completely upon God!
1) (Psa. 119:71), “It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.”
2) (I Jn. 1:8-9), “If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not….”
3) It is only when we acknowledge the evil that resides within us – and totally depend upon God for His grace & mercy – that evil can bring about a good result in our lives!!!

b. To prepare us for the life to come!
1) (II Cor. 4:16-18), “… for while our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being
renewed day by day. – For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight
of glory far beyond all comparison, - while we look not at the things that are seen, but….”
2) Therefore, the evil that others do – may be shown to bring about a good result in our lives!!!

2. God is able to use the evil means of others to bring about a good outcome…
a. Evil means were used to bring about the death of our Lord…
1) Judas (lust for money) – (Lk. 22:4-5), “Judas went away and discussed with the chief priests
how he might betray Jesus and they agreed to give him money.”
2) Chief priests (lust for power) – (Mk. 15:10), “Pilate was aware that the chief priests had
handed Him over because of envy.”
3) Pilate (lust for prestige) – (Mk. 15:15), “Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released
Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”

b. God does not approve of evil, - but He accepts that it exists – and is able to use it to bring about
His good results!
1) Remember, evil/good isn’t the outcome of an action – but the means to bring about the result.
2) (Acts 2:22-24), “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to
you by God with miracles and wonders and signs – which God performed through Him in
your midst, - just as you yourselves know – this Man, delivered over by the predetermined
plan and foreknowledge of God, - you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men, and put
Him to death. – But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death.”
3) Thus, God did for us – what He commands us to do for others – “Do not be overcome by evil,
- but overcome evil with good,” (Rom. 12:21).
4) We may truly concur with the words of the apostle – (Quote Rom. 8:28)!!!

3. The only time evil is seen in the result - is when it is compared with what might have been!
a. (Matt. 23:37-38), “O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! – How often I wanted to gather your children together, - the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling. – Behold, your house is left to you desolate!”
1) “But I’m not that evil! I didn’t kill 3,000 people in the World Trade Center!!!”
2) When it comes to evil in our lives – the only body count that matters – is the body of the One who died on a cross for YOU – because of the evil in your life!!!!”

b. So lets look at today as an “Outcome Day”:
3) The evils of your past (present?) – now have the opportunity to bring about a good outcome.
4) (Quote Mk. 16:16a).
2) Otherwise, in eternity, you will always be tormenting over – “What might have been…?!”