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SUFFERING

This session was taught at the Christ Church Manchester School of Theology on Saturday 20th October 2018. The CCM School of Theology was set up to serve local churches in Manchester and beyond.

Topic: Suffering

In this session, we look at the topic of suffering.

Speaker: Justin Mote

Justin is the former head of the North West Partnership Ministry Training course and a regular speaker on various Theology Topics

LISTEN

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NOTES

Suffering

Introduction

 

What you do when the Bible doesn’t answer every question you have:

You accept that there are secret things (Deut 29:29)

You trust the sufficiency of Scripture (2 Tim 3:17)

 

1). SUFFERING AT CREATION

 

The refrain through Genesis 1 ‘it was good’ )

 

The blessing of the seventh day

 

The explicit warning of the commandment

 

2). SUFFERING AFTER THE FALL

  

The distorted relationships

 

Pain and toil

 

The frustrated creation (see Romans 8:20-22)

 

Evidences of suffering

            the murder of Abel

the normality of death

 

3). SUFFERING THROUGH ISRAEL’S HISTORY

 

Abraham’s descendants are promised blessing for all nations

 

Abraham’s descendants are not immune from manmade suffering
E.g. attempted murder, rape etc

 

Abraham’s descendants are not immune from natural disasters
e.g. famine

 

Moses’ ‘deal’ promises Genesis 1-2 again if obedient, but warns of ongoing suffering if disobedient

 

Israel’s ongoing disobedience means they never receive this blessing

 

David is promised that a kingdom, ruled by his son, of rest and no wickedness

The prophets continue to promise that blessing will come at a return from exile

The contribution of the book of Job
Individual sin and suffering are not always related
Faith is still expected by a sovereign God
The redundancy of the question ‘why’ (It’s never answered)
The danger of wrong counselling

 

4). SUFFERING AND THE COMING OF JESUS

 

Jesus’ miracles show he is a king who can deliver people from suffering

 

Jesus’ death is to take the judgement that has lead to all suffering
He knows all about suffering

Jesus’ death doesn’t deliver believers in the church age from suffering
He alerted us to that
The apostles and us have experienced it!
The ascended Jesus empathises with us and gives us grace to cope
Present suffering for believers is part of the demonstration of faith
Experience of suffering through opposition is something to rejoice in

 

5). SUFFERING AND THE NEW CREATION

Revelation 21-22

It will be gone!

Hooray. Come Lord Jesus!!

Some implications for us now:

Why does a good God allow suffering? The answer?

MORE THEOLOGY TRAINING

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