9/11/2001

The central message of this sermon is that God's sovereignty and goodness are not in conflict with the existence of evil, but rather they are intimately connected to it. The problem of evil can be seen as a paradox, where if God is all-powerful (God), he must be able to stop evil, but then why doesn't he? And on the other hand, if God is all-good (good), he wants to prevent evil, but then how can it exist? However, the sermon argues that this apparent contradiction is actually a manifestation of God's patience and love, as he allows evil to exist in order to give people an opportunity for salvation. This perspective is rooted in 2 Peter 3:8-9, where it says that God is not slow to return, but patient, wanting everyone to come to repentance. The sermon emphasizes that this answer requires faith, and that we must trust in a God who has suffered at the cross and is good, sovereign, and all-powerful. Ultimately, the takeaway is that God's goodness and sovereignty are not diminished by the existence of evil, but rather they are revealed in his patience and love for humanity.