God is Good.
Jeremiah 32:40–41.
I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.
Our God is good. This is why we can have peace and comfort in God's sovereignty over all things. If God were not good (which would really be saying 'if God were not God') then we could not trust Him.
There are many who believe that God can be either good or Sovereign but cannot be both. Rabbi Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, in trying to make sense out of a tragedy in his own family concludes by reading the book of Job that Job was "forced to choose between a good God who is not totally powerful, or a powerful God who is not totally good. (as quoted in Jerry Bridges' book Trusting God). In the Rabbi Kushner's view It is too difficult for God to keep bad things from happening.
It is surprising to see how many Christians will agree with the Rabbi. Many Christians will frequently speak of things happening by chance and by circumstances outside our (and God's) control. According to Jerry Bridges, the implicit assumption from this is that "If God is both powerful and good, why is there so much suffering, so much pain, so much heartache in the world?"
Can we have it both ways? Can our God be both sovereign and good? The Bible teaches us we do have it both ways.
As we saw last week God is sovereign over all things. Not even the smallest bacteria escapes His control. But there is a two fold objective to God's sovereignty. God's glory and the good of His people.
God has designed His eternal purpose so that His glory and our good are inextricably bound together. - Jerry Bridges
Can we trust God? Can God always care for us (is he sovereign?), and Does God always care for us (is he Good)? The Bible clearly affirms both that God is good and God is in control.
We can learn to trust God in adversity when we believe that nothing can frustrate God's plans for His glory and nothing can spoil his plans for the good He is working out in us and for us.
Along with the Key Scripture in your notes check out Romans 8:28-30 (and if you are really motivated the book of Job) and spend some time meditating on the fact that God is sovereign and that God is good.
12 comments:
Well, another question: if God is good and sovereign then one may properly conclude that God's eternal plan is good. If so, then how is it that it involves a reality of anyone, much less the majority (Matt 7:13-14), of people in a not so good eternity? Jesus says for at least some that it would have been better had they not been born (Mk 14:21), how does this work in a truly good plan?
This really goes back to God being in sovereign control. If we try to figure out the plans of God we will fail. God's ultimate plan is good but sometimes for that good plan to come about bad things happen.
For instance look at the cross. We know that a great thing happened on the cross. A substitution for our sins was given so that we may be forgiven. We also know it was a horrible, heinous act. Jesus suffered an unimaginable amount of pain. Overall God's good plan prevailed.
Another case of this takes place in the life of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. He was locked up for no reason. He was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife. Ultimately this horrible act by his brothers was God's plan for good. After he was promoted to a high rank in Egypt he was able to save his family from starvation. Joseph said in Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
We may not know or understand how God's plan is good at the present time, but if we can look at the situation as a whole we will find that God is good and that his good plan will prevail.
Brian Manns
I don't really have difficulty accepting the presence of temporal suffering for the goodness of God's plan, and in any case I trust the will of God as good, but I guess eternal condemnation is just hard to swallow. I understand that my judgment is fallible and that one would agree with the will of God as good upon the full fruition of it, but nonetheless. Thanks though.
In reading about God's wrath this week I read again the statement that Wrath is the holiness of God stirred into action against sin. God's wrath is God's perfect response to rebellion against his authority. Eternal condemnation is something that should be seen in light of God's awesome holiness and in man's complete and utter rebellion against Him. To sin against a holy and awesome God deserves eternal punishment. God is good and just. If sin is not punished in this way then we would not serve a good and just God. To those who reject Christ then what awaits them is eternal punishment and this act of justice is good.
The analogy is somewhat weak, but if we heard of a judge today who released a person who had committed a terrible crime then we would say that judge was not a just or good judge.
God's wrath is always poured out on all sin. For those who put their faith in Christ then God's wrath is absorbed in Christ on the cross. For those who do not put their faith in Christ then God's wrath is poured on them in eternal condemnation.
I understand this, and agree. However, I question why God would bring someone into existence knowing that their destiny is eternal damnation. It seems to me that God's mercy and grace would be more greatly observed in not bringing into existence those he knows would obtain such a fate, and therefore their reaping of such judgment to never take place. As well, God commands men to "be fruitful and multiply", and this is even after Eden in Noah's time when men are already thoroughly corrupted with evil (Gen 9:7). Why would God command such a thing knowing that men are just bringing into existence so many more people whose eternal destiny is so tragic, even considering a portion would be saved? And the vague idea that this is somehow for the greater good almost makes the lost seem like exploited catalysts who are discarded into torments once their purpose is complete, which nearly makes God seem sadistic in deriving pleasure from the pain of others.
The only thing I can say is that who are we as clay to question the potter's motives or intentions. Potters know more than clay about what is wise to make. Paul in Romans 9 asks in verse 20, "Who are you, O man, [that is, a mere man, a mere piece of clay] to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’" In other words, the argument is simply this: we humans don’t know enough to elevate our values and our standards and our insights to the point of judging God and saying: You used your sovereignty in an unwise, unrighteous way.
Ultimately the Bible says God is good and the Bible says that God is sovereign. His ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. Ultimately everything God does is perfectly good and just. This is something that we believe not because of experience or rational thinking but we believe it because God's word says its true.
I hope this helps.
If you are interested in studying this more then I would recommend Jonathan Edwards book "The End for Which God Created the World". I would recommend the whole book, but if you want to skip right to this particular issue then go to Section Five "Places of Scripture from whence it may be argued that communication of good to the creature was one thing which God had in view as an ultimate end of the creation of the world". Part One of this section is called "Doing good to his creatures is pleasing to God in itself, while doing harm is pleasing only in relation to something else".
These are tough to read, but hard to underestimate their value.
Here is a link to read the book online through John Piper's website desiringgod.org.
http://www.desiringgod.org/media/pdf/books_gpfg/gpfg_all.pdf
Another post from me. As I was reading A.W. Pink's attributes of God I read this,
Again, though it be true...that God's mercy "endureth forever" yet we must observe carefully the objects to whom his mercy is shown. Even the casting of reprobate into the Lake of Fire is an act of mercy. The punishment of the wicked is to be contemplated from a threefold viewpoint. From God's side, it is an act of justice, vindicating his honor. The mercy of God is never shown to the prejudice of his holiness and righteousness. From their side, it is an act of equity, when they are made to suffer the due reward of their iniquities. But from the standpoint of the redeemed, the punishment of the wicked is an act of unspeakable mercy. How dreadful would it be if the present order of things,when the children of God are obliged to live in the midst of the children of the Devil, should continue forever."
I am still thinking through what Pink is saying. I know this doesnt really answer any questions, but combine this with Edwards thesis and I think some things start falling together, albeit slowly.
I entirely agree with Paul's argument of the potter and the clay, as well as elsewhere (I forget) in scripture, as you said, that meager man cannot judge God. And by no means am I attempting to judge God, as even apart from the Bible (but more significantly with it) I believe God to be just and good and therefore I trust him and his Judgment and understand that upon seeing the end of all things I will agree with that Judgment as good; perhaps one would even argue that the condemned will agree that that Judgment is good and righteous (Phil 2:10). Therefore, my solace lies in that whatever God's Judgment is, I know it shall be good, and regardless of it's exact nature that doesn't affect how I should live my life, but is mere inessential (albeit not insignificant) doctrine. In any case, I am not questioning God's Judgment, but rather the traditional, Orthodox Christian interpretation of it, as from my finite, feeble perspective, I am a little discontent with it, but understand that even if such is truly God's Judgment, I will come to know it is good and that settles the matter. Although until that end I will continue seeking something with which I may be presently content, whether I shall find such or not.
Concerning Edwards' arguments, I have some qualms with them, but perhaps that's my personal fault as he seems quite consistent with the cited scripture. I would like to read the entire book, but I'm not a big fan of reading a lot on an electronic screen, but we'll see.
Concerning Pink's words, my only issue is that in the present state the saved sin along with the unsaved, and if in the eternal state the former will somehow not, why not the latter?
In any case though, I have obtained further enlightenment and peace about the matter, so thanks for the help, even considering I know my limited mind will be unable to grasp this aspect of God (among nigh all others) until the fruition of all things.
I am thankful that we have had this conversation. I love good questions (even if my limited mind cant answer them). Like you I will continue to seek to know the Lord while understanding that His ways are higher than mine and knowing that I will not fully know until I see Him. BTW no pressure but do you mind me asking who this is? Just wanting to put a face on the conversation.
Trent.
Your MoM!
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