- God created everything – “and it was good”
- We reject God. We Sin
- Suffering enters the world. We are the cause
- DEATH, “The earth is cursed”, “nature is in conflict”, “pain in child-bearing”
- V.22 Creation groans as in child-birth “bondage to decay”, can’t escape
- V.23 We groan inwardly… as we wait, patiently
- V.18 Something better is coming!!
For the non-Christian, this world is as good as it gets…
But for the Christian, THERE IS HOPE!
Revelation 21:1-5 (open this one, get someone to read)
- New Creation – no more suffering
So it’s my fault? Does God not care??
Hebrews 4:15 JESUS is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, because he was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Born into poverty, broken family, manual job, homeless, under military occupation, abandoned by friends, betrayed, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, tortured, murdered
JESUS CAN IDENTIFY WITH OUR SUFFERINGS
BUT, HE ALSO DEALS WITH OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM - SIN
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
