Sermons on Goodness
Over the last two weeks, we’ve been taking a closer look at the final section of Romans 12. In this instruction, Paul gives several ways in which the believers at Rome (and by extension, to us as well) are to overcome evil with good. In light of the love and compassion that God has shown us who are in Christ Jesus, how are we supposed to treat those who oppose us and persecute us? Today’s message from Romans 12:19-20 gives us the answer.
Philosophy professor, Ronald Nash, states, “Every philosopher believes that the most serious challenge to theism was, and is, and will continue to be the problem of evil.” This is the issue that we hope to address this morning—“If God is good, why is there so much pain, and suffering, and evil in the world?” Another philosopher, David Hume, poses the problem of evil and sufferance in this way. He says, “Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able to but not willing? Then his is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Why then is there evil?”
In this sermon, I want us to focus on God’s blessings and goodness to us, and how we should respond in return. In Psalm 107, the psalmist gives us several pictures of how God sees His children and the struggles that they are facing. We will take time to examine each of these word pictures and observe how we too are struggling in much the same way today. Within each of these word pictures, we will see what God promises to do for us and how He hopes we will respond.