WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.940 So if you're new to Sunday school or if you've missed a few weeks, we are thinking about God's sovereignty this term. 00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:14.980 ! And we've seen that God is sovereign over all things, every single detail in the universe. 00:00:14.980 --> 00:00:19.820 And by sovereign, we mean God's kingly rule. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:26.300 It's his power and control and authority and plan over all things. 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:30.460 So in eternity, in eternity past, I haven't even written eternity. 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:43.700 In eternity, God decreed all things. He had a plan and predestined all that would happen. 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:49.799 And that is how he is sovereign over all things, because he's spoken it all to be in eternity past. 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:59.259 And last week, we saw that, well, that includes all things, and that includes sin and suffering and evil. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:10.979 Sin and suffering and evil included. 00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:17.020 And that always raises the question, well, how is that possible? 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:25.159 And so we establish three pillars of biblical truth that we must hold to when we think about God's sovereignty over evil. 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:30.420 We need to establish that God cannot commit evil. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:32.840 That's the first truth, the first pillar of the Bible. 00:01:33.340 --> 00:01:37.240 God is never morally responsible when evil or sin occurs. 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:40.039 He's too holy for that to be the case. 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:46.000 And the second pillar is man is always responsible for evil, for when we sin. 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:48.759 That is to say, when we sin, we sin. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:53.399 And the third pillar is God is sovereign over evil. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:02:00.219 It is all completely within his control and plan and purpose. 00:02:00.219 --> 00:02:08.039 And so these are all just three fundamental biblical truths, three pillars we must hold to. 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:12.379 But it isn't always clear how these three things hold together. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:15.180 That there is mystery within this. 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:21.219 How can God be sovereign, but not the author of evil or morally responsible? 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:24.939 How can he decree it, but also not commit it? 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:29.300 And we are forced to acknowledge that there is just mystery here. 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:32.960 There's a great mystery of God's sovereignty over evil. 00:02:33.359 --> 00:02:37.840 He is both holy and totally sovereign, yet man is responsible. 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:42.280 And these are just simply truths we must hold to. 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:47.020 From now on, as we thought about last week and as we go on ahead, these are just three truths. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:49.520 They are true and we must hold to them. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:57.560 But we also saw God does shed some light on how these three pillars hold together. 00:02:58.320 --> 00:03:02.540 It is held together by a word beginning with P, purpose. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:03.760 God's purpose. 00:03:05.200 --> 00:03:11.580 God has a holy and wise purpose and intention in ordaining evil, in decreeing it. 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:39.220 God's sovereignty is deeper than that. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:45.900 God has planned and intended all evil in this world for a good purpose. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:50.000 And the cross is the ultimate example of that. 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:56.539 The cross is such a helpful first thing we should go to when we're kind of wrestling with questions about this. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:02.259 The crucifixion of the Son of God was the greatest sin to be committed. 00:04:03.419 --> 00:04:06.379 Humans were entirely responsible for it. 00:04:06.379 --> 00:04:09.539 Yet God had planned and predestined it. 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:12.319 Entirely sovereign over those events. 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:18.279 Because he had a good purpose running throughout all of it. 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:20.060 The salvation of sinners. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:21.719 Look at Acts 2. 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:25.719 We see the three pillars all together just in this one verse. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:30.660 This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. 00:04:31.080 --> 00:04:34.260 You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:35.780 So do you see? 00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:37.920 God condemns this. 00:04:38.320 --> 00:04:39.520 They were lawless men. 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:40.820 So God wasn't responsible. 00:04:41.840 --> 00:04:42.800 Man is responsible. 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:45.120 You crucified and killed him. 00:04:45.900 --> 00:04:47.760 Yet God was sovereign over the whole thing. 00:04:48.180 --> 00:04:51.680 It was all according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.240 Plan decreed from eternity. 00:04:53.240 --> 00:05:02.000 And so God, we can take that and we can expand that to all evil and sin in this world. 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:08.740 God has a good purpose in planning all the evil and suffering in our lives. 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:14.360 But we can't always pinpoint what exactly that purpose is. 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:17.100 It could be, we saw last week, for loving discipline. 00:05:17.840 --> 00:05:19.939 It could be to refine our faith. 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:23.100 It could be to protect us from greater evils. 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:33.180 Or it could be as a good warning sign, pointing us to judgment day, saying that there is a greater suffering to come. 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:34.439 And so repent. 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:37.399 That's what Jesus highlights for us in Luke 13. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.240 And so God's sovereignty over evil could be summed up as this. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:45.500 Confession 3.1. 00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:47.379 Remember, this is our guide in Sunday school. 00:05:48.340 --> 00:05:56.780 God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. 00:05:57.620 --> 00:06:05.639 Yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures. 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:07.319 God didn't commit the sin. 00:06:07.400 --> 00:06:08.400 He's not responsible of it. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.099 And man is responsible. 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:12.120 That their will isn't destroyed in this. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.659 Okay, that's a bit of a recap. 00:06:16.579 --> 00:06:20.079 But today, I want us to go even deeper into this. 00:06:20.799 --> 00:06:22.519 It's probably about as deep as we can go. 00:06:23.599 --> 00:06:26.699 And I want us to think about the great problem of evil. 00:06:27.739 --> 00:06:28.879 The problem of evil. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:33.839 And this is the big question that people have asked for centuries. 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:36.740 Philosophers have wondered about it. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:39.120 Theologians have discussed it. 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:43.079 And we can even wonder about it in our own lives. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:50.420 How can God be good and sovereign over evil and yet not the author of evil? 00:06:50.420 --> 00:07:04.240 Or maybe a bit more, a sharper question that we face is, if God is good and sovereign over evil, why is he allowing all this suffering to happen? 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:09.960 Okay, that is the big problem of evil or the question about it. 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:16.479 And so I want us to try and just at least approach that and help us to think about it in the right way. 00:07:16.919 --> 00:07:19.919 And I want us to think about two things in particular. 00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:20.819 Okay, today. 00:07:21.019 --> 00:07:24.680 I want us to think about how God can harden hearts. 00:07:25.419 --> 00:07:30.599 And how God could know about the fall and still let it happen. 00:07:31.339 --> 00:07:31.620 Okay. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:34.179 And there are three more Ps to help us think about. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:35.179 So we thought about purpose. 00:07:35.779 --> 00:07:36.839 And there are three more Ps. 00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:38.379 And the first two are this. 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:40.239 Passive and passing by. 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:42.219 This is how God hardens hearts. 00:07:43.719 --> 00:07:45.599 And I want us to begin here. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:49.839 Because if we think about how God can harden hearts. 00:07:50.359 --> 00:07:55.859 In particular, how God can harden Pharaoh's heart in the Exodus. 00:07:56.339 --> 00:07:58.620 We'll see that's the case. 00:07:59.599 --> 00:08:05.679 If we think about this, it can actually help us to think about the overall picture of God's sovereignty over evil. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.259 And the problem of evil. 00:08:08.139 --> 00:08:09.519 So I want you to break out. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:10.800 Answer these questions. 00:08:11.019 --> 00:08:12.259 One is about Exodus. 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:16.300 And then I want you to look up Romans 9 and answer the rest of those questions. 00:08:16.400 --> 00:08:18.840 So I'll give you a good few minutes for that. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:22.960 And on Exodus, who hardens Pharaoh's heart? 00:08:24.460 --> 00:08:24.899 Fernando. 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:26.860 God. 00:08:28.460 --> 00:08:28.939 Sorry? 00:08:29.899 --> 00:08:30.660 The Lord. 00:08:30.660 --> 00:08:31.100 Yeah, yeah. 00:08:31.400 --> 00:08:32.500 And is that it? 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:37.240 It's his part of the Exodus. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:38.620 Ah, interesting, yeah. 00:08:39.040 --> 00:08:39.600 So God. 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:41.360 So Exodus 9. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:43.940 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:46.040 But also Exodus 8. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:48.960 Pharaoh hardened his own heart. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:49.980 Right? 00:08:50.560 --> 00:08:51.220 It's interesting. 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:52.560 Exodus says both. 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:57.779 It is Pharaoh who hardens his own heart. 00:08:58.239 --> 00:08:59.979 And God hardens his heart. 00:09:00.059 --> 00:09:01.059 And remember the context of this. 00:09:01.119 --> 00:09:04.459 This is so that Pharaoh did not let the people go. 00:09:04.959 --> 00:09:08.099 And he made their slavery even harsher. 00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:08.679 Right? 00:09:08.819 --> 00:09:09.000 Okay. 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:12.399 But that raises a question, doesn't it? 00:09:12.579 --> 00:09:14.339 How can it be both? 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:18.820 And also, well, first question is, how can it be both? 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.259 How can God harden Pharaoh's heart? 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:25.320 And Pharaoh hardens his own heart. 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:34.800 And also, how can, if it is God, if God is involved in this, how can God do that and not be the author of sin? 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:43.699 How can God harden Pharaoh's heart to cause his own people more suffering? 00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:47.299 Well, an answer to both those questions. 00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:49.179 We're going to go through these questions slowly. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:50.859 So let's just think about this question for now. 00:09:51.599 --> 00:09:52.959 An answer to both those questions. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:53.899 How can it be both? 00:09:54.219 --> 00:09:56.339 How can God harden Pharaoh's heart? 00:09:57.039 --> 00:10:00.120 The answer to both those questions is found in the word passive. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:00.959 Okay? 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:06.360 So we can say God passively hardened Pharaoh's heart. 00:10:07.180 --> 00:10:11.519 Not that he actively implanted evil into Pharaoh's heart. 00:10:12.180 --> 00:10:17.060 But I want us to see that God removed his mercy from Pharaoh's heart. 00:10:17.920 --> 00:10:20.980 God left Pharaoh to his own sin. 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:23.639 And in that way, Pharaoh's heart was hardened. 00:10:24.300 --> 00:10:24.460 Okay? 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:26.080 So I just want us to think about this for a moment. 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:29.000 And just think about how are we naturally? 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.940 How are our hearts naturally? 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:35.620 Are we seeking sin or seeking God? 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:37.679 Do you remember the great chasm? 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:39.039 All right. 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:44.100 So if we are here, so this is without God's grace, how we are naturally. 00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:47.019 We are dead in sin, aren't we? 00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:48.419 So how are we naturally? 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:52.879 Are we naturally seeking God or are we naturally doing something else? 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:53.679 Shout out. 00:10:54.379 --> 00:10:55.320 Going the other way, right? 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:59.500 We, our hearts, are pulling towards sin. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.040 We want to sin. 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:02.300 That's where our desires are set. 00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:05.100 That's what it means to be dead in our trespasses. 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:13.160 We are naturally, without God's intervention and his grace, we are all naturally not seeking God, but seeking sin. 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:21.839 Therefore, we are all naturally also going to hell, aren't we? 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:23.019 By nature. 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:23.579 Right? 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:24.939 So we are not, do you remember what? 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:28.299 We are not kind of like a neutral person here. 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:32.419 And either heaven or hell. 00:11:33.419 --> 00:11:33.699 Right? 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:36.000 That's not what the default is. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:36.460 We are. 00:11:38.520 --> 00:11:39.580 So it's not that. 00:11:40.300 --> 00:11:40.540 Right? 00:11:41.400 --> 00:11:50.960 We are, by nature, dead in our sin, and naturally going to hell. 00:11:51.500 --> 00:12:00.540 And it's only by God's grace that he elects sinners and brings them to eternal life. 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:01.539 Right? 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:06.419 That's election. 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:11.480 Right? 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:21.559 And so, do we deserve, naturally, do we deserve God to do anything to us? 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:23.539 To intervene into this state? 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.000 Right? 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:24.840 No. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.639 We deserve to be left in this state. 00:12:27.740 --> 00:12:30.679 We deserve to just run toward our sin. 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:34.580 We deserve to be just, to be left down here and God to do nothing. 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:45.200 And so, it is only because of God's mercy that we aren't as bad as we could be. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.360 Okay? 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:52.680 So I want you to think of our hearts like a volatile nuclear reactor core. 00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:53.080 Okay? 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:54.040 Right? 00:12:54.420 --> 00:13:01.840 That has the potential to explode outwards and cause all sorts of chaos and sin and destruction. 00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:02.440 Right? 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:04.980 So that's what our hearts are like, naturally. 00:13:05.140 --> 00:13:05.320 Right? 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.460 They're pulling to sin. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.660 They're trying to explode out towards sin. 00:13:09.660 --> 00:13:13.240 And if we're honest with ourselves, we know that, don't we? 00:13:14.020 --> 00:13:14.259 Right? 00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:22.600 If our desires were let loose, there would be monsters all over this world. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:31.220 But in God's mercy, God contains the reactor core of our hearts. 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:31.620 Right? 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:38.759 He doesn't let this world and our hearts get as bad as they possibly could be. 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:42.860 They could, you know, if it was, if it, what is as bad as possibly could be? 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:47.980 It is exploding our sin without any restraint, just letting our desires loose. 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:53.340 But God restrains that, pulls it in. 00:13:54.320 --> 00:14:01.120 And so his mercy, it's like this protective restraint around our hearts and around the world. 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:07.600 But sometimes God removes that mercy, okay? 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:10.580 Or he kind of lets it off a little bit. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.919 And he gives humans over to their sin. 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:18.340 So that's the language of Romans 1, Romans 1 below. 00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:23.620 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity. 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:28.360 For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:37.860 And when God does this, God is removing his mercy as a punishment on sinners. 00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.139 Right? 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:44.120 That this isn't, this isn't kind of letting them indulge in a nice way. 00:14:44.220 --> 00:14:47.560 That this is letting them indulge in a judgment way. 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:53.399 Letting them indulge in their own sin as, is punishment in itself. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:57.199 It's like God says, right, you want that? 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.659 Fine, have it. 00:14:58.839 --> 00:15:00.219 Let's see where that will take you. 00:15:01.739 --> 00:15:05.779 So when God does that, it's not making people sin. 00:15:06.719 --> 00:15:10.739 It is righteously allowing them to do what they wanted to do anyway. 00:15:11.099 --> 00:15:11.259 Right? 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:14.340 And so look how the confession sums it up. 00:15:16.200 --> 00:15:17.200 5.6. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:26.159 As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous judge for former sins, does blind and harden. 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:26.639 Right? 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.580 So the language of hardening. 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:29.080 What does that mean? 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:31.700 He withholds his grace. 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:32.360 Right? 00:15:32.379 --> 00:15:34.580 So he doesn't restrain as much. 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:40.960 And gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world and the power of Satan. 00:15:41.540 --> 00:15:44.800 Whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves. 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:50.360 And this is how we can understand the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. 00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:55.200 Pharaoh's heart was a reactor core of sin. 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:59.140 He wanted to enslave the Hebrews. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:15:59.460 Right? 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:04.840 And God let loose Pharaoh's reactor core heart. 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:08.000 And Pharaoh did what he wanted to do anyway. 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:12.360 He, that is the hardening of his heart. 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:16.780 And that is how Pharaoh hardened his own heart. 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:19.500 And God hardened Pharaoh's heart. 00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:20.120 Right? 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:23.340 In this sense, it was a passive hardening. 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:23.600 Right? 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:26.379 God was completely sovereign over it. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:28.259 He removed the restraint. 00:16:28.659 --> 00:16:31.100 But it was Pharaoh's own heart that wanted all that. 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:35.879 And so actually, if you think about it in this way, the three pillars remain intact. 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:36.159 Right? 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.759 God doesn't commit the evil. 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:42.279 He doesn't implant evil into Pharaoh's heart. 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.820 Pharaoh commits the evil. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:48.480 Yet God is sovereign over his heart the whole time. 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:53.419 And while we're here, we're going to stop for questions in a moment. 00:16:53.419 --> 00:17:06.440 But while we're here, this is also how we can understand the idea of God not saving people, but sending people to hell, yet still being good and sovereign. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:07.000 Right? 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:09.519 So think about this diagram here. 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.039 This one here. 00:17:10.879 --> 00:17:12.980 Where are we naturally heading to? 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:16.440 We're naturally heading to hell. 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:18.299 This is what we're choosing in our sin. 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:23.659 This is what our reactor core hearts naturally pull towards. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:40.359 And so when we think about God sending people to heaven and sending people to hell, or electing and sending people to hell, he doesn't do that in exactly the same way. 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:41.019 Right? 00:17:41.459 --> 00:17:47.979 There's an asymmetry to how God handles the destinies of his elect and his non-elect. 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:54.019 God graciously intervenes and predestines with his elect. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:18:00.500 But God passes by those whom he has not elected. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.419 His hands lay off them. 00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:04.979 He's sovereign over both. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:05.219 Right? 00:18:05.439 --> 00:18:06.899 Let's be 100% clear about it. 00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:10.000 He's sovereign over both, but in different ways. 00:18:11.179 --> 00:18:13.559 So just look at the language of the confession again. 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.139 3.7. 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:19.519 I think the confession is just, this is a really thorny area. 00:18:19.979 --> 00:18:24.379 And the confession is just really good at navigating this area of the zoo that we're in at the moment. 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:26.740 Chapter 3.7. 00:18:27.479 --> 00:18:28.500 The rest of mankind. 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:30.259 So it's spoken about the elect. 00:18:30.659 --> 00:18:33.959 So God predestines the elect and saves them, gives them eternal life. 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:36.779 Now he's speaking of the rest of mankind. 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:44.119 God was pleased according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extends or withholds mercy. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.200 Remember the reactor core? 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.200 As he pleases. 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:46.740 As he pleases. 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:55.559 For the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, he has chosen to pass by the rest of mankind. 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:59.460 And to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:01.840 To the praise of his glorious justice. 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:08.359 That's how we can think about it in terms of heaven and hell. 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:12.099 And it's how we can understand what's going on with Pharaoh. 00:19:12.099 --> 00:19:20.579 And the fact that this is how we can understand his sovereignty over all evil and sin in this world. 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:27.139 The world deserves to be plunged into sin and misery. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:31.899 It doesn't deserve any restraint if you think about it. 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:36.400 The reactor core rightly should just be let off. 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:40.160 And we should just be let to live in chaos. 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:45.500 Ever since the fall that this world is naturally a monster. 00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:52.259 But in God's mercy, he restrains the evil of this world. 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:57.340 And so there are good things remaining in this world. 00:19:57.560 --> 00:19:59.620 Things aren't as bad as they can be. 00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:01.560 You can enjoy this world. 00:20:02.340 --> 00:20:04.860 But sometimes he lets it loose. 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:09.620 And that doesn't mean God is guilty of those things. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:12.300 The evil in this world wanted to do that anyway. 00:20:13.540 --> 00:20:19.780 But it means, in those instances, God righteously gives evil over to evil. 00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:22.640 You wanted that? Fine, you have it. 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:27.900 And that is all a part of his righteous judgment against this world. 00:20:27.900 --> 00:20:33.259 And I realise that these words are hard to hear, aren't they? 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:35.540 But it's true. 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:42.920 And they're hard to hear because it does a lot of harm to our pride, doesn't it? 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:46.539 We think we deserve so much. 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:51.500 But the reality is, as sinners, we don't deserve anything. 00:20:51.500 --> 00:21:02.099 But thinking this way, it sheds some light on how God can be both sovereign over evil and good at the same time. 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:05.379 And so there are two Ps to remember here. 00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:10.559 God passively hardens and he passes by the non-elect. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:16.740 But of course, this now raises questions of why. 00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:20.319 So that's kind of how that can happen. 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.039 But why? 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:25.379 Why would God let evil loose? 00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:29.019 Why have evil in the first place? 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:32.539 Well, to answer that, let's look at Romans 9. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:37.339 But let's just pause for any questions at this moment. 00:21:39.639 --> 00:21:41.440 Any questions just on that stuff? 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:59.440 Good question. 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:01.580 Yeah, no, I should clarify that. 00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:02.620 Yeah, I don't want. 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:05.759 So let me just give the actual answer. 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.759 He does. 00:22:06.840 --> 00:22:08.720 He does ordain who was going to hell. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:13.200 Right. So he he ultimately he knows and says and decrees. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:17.160 Decrees all things. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.279 Right. Who is going to heaven? 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:18.960 Who is going to hell? 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.200 In fact, it's there in the confession. 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:25.059 OK, so look at the final sentence of three point seven. 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:28.220 He ordains them to dishonor. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.319 Right. He decrees. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.960 He determines them to dishonor and wrath for their sin. 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:33.579 Right. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:38.700 So you could say he predestines both, but he predestines them in different ways. 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:41.160 Right. His hands are on them in different ways. 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:44.740 That isn't to say, like, he's a little bit less sovereign over those who go to hell. 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:48.420 Because, yeah, he's kind of like, you know, he's 100 percent sovereign over both. 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:52.019 But I'm just trying to emphasize in different ways. 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:58.079 And we want to emphasize in different ways so that we maintain God is not the author of evil. 00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:02.000 We're just trying to clarify their sin is their sin. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.480 Right. 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:06.200 And I realize that that raises question. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:06.759 That's a mystery. 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:12.259 But how can he predestine both and ordain both except just one of them? 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.759 He's not really morally. 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:15.440 He's not morally responsible. 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:17.940 And that's that's that's the mystery. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:20.360 That's the mystery that we highlighted last week. 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:23.759 It's about how we don't know. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:33.119 And so what we're doing here, just the language of passive and passing by, it's not getting it's not getting sovereignty. 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.720 It's not kind of lessening your sovereignty. 00:23:35.660 --> 00:23:38.259 There's like a just on the wall. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:40.460 So not in the black box, but on the wall. 00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.160 You see the wall. 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:41.779 Yeah, perfect. 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.539 Thank you. 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:45.879 We're not trying to lessen God's sovereignty here. 00:23:45.879 --> 00:23:53.619 We're just trying to in the as best language as we can, because these are big, heavenly, eternal things in the best language. 00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:58.639 Just guarding God from committing evil, but maintaining his sovereignty. 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.940 And yeah, there's mystery to that. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:02.639 Yeah. 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.680 Yeah, Katia. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:16.019 So if God elects a few, or elects people to return alive and are saved, is it possible to fall away again? 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:24.779 Once he elects a few, is it possible to still fall away from God's grace? 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.600 Good question. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:25.900 All right. 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:27.960 So let me be flipping this over. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.860 Here we go. 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:33.139 So if God has elected, this is your question. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:39.139 So if God has elected people to eternal life, can those people ever kind of fall away and come back down here? 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:39.839 That's your question. 00:24:40.399 --> 00:24:40.619 All right. 00:24:40.899 --> 00:24:51.199 Can, if God has decreed something from eternity, sovereignly, can anything break that decree? 00:24:51.199 --> 00:24:57.019 Can anything undo it or say, oh, no, I know you said that from eternity, God, but no, that's not going to happen, actually. 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.500 Let's just think about it for all things. 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.779 No, right? 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:04.019 A dice is going to roll exactly how God says. 00:25:04.339 --> 00:25:06.359 A storm is going to happen exactly as God says. 00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:12.180 And so when God saves someone, they absolutely will be saved. 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.039 He's elected. 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:16.480 Their name is written in the book of life and can't be rubbed out. 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:18.160 Not our own sin. 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:19.279 We can't rub it out ourselves. 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.759 Satan can't rub it out. 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.639 No one can. 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:26.539 And that also links to just Christ's work on the cross that we thought about last term, right? 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.480 When Christ said, it is finished. 00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:33.460 He took his people, his elect to the cross, paid for their sins. 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.259 And he said, it is finished. 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:37.059 That there's no more payment to be made. 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:39.359 You can't add sin back into their account. 00:25:39.660 --> 00:25:41.400 You can't undo what I've done. 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:43.720 No, it is certain. 00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.079 Right. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.259 Yeah. 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.039 Hold on. 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:48.339 Any more questions? 00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:49.339 Yeah. 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.339 00:25:55.339 --> 00:26:02.759 If you have friends in the lockdowns who are disabled, how do you, in order to solve it, 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:04.959 do you feel about praying for them? 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.059 How would it be? 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:08.959 Yeah. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:09.699 Good question. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:10.720 Yeah. 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:10.959 Yeah. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:14.159 I want to think about this more in two weeks time. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:17.860 We're going to think about evangelism and prayer in all of this. 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:24.519 The short answer is that this should spur our prayers for them because God is sovereign 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.700 over salvation, right? 00:26:25.800 --> 00:26:32.480 If God isn't sovereign over salvation, then there's no point praying because who can save 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:32.700 them? 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:35.480 No one because he's not truly sovereign. 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:37.940 But God knows who are his. 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.600 He can raise the dead. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:41.199 And so we can pray. 00:26:42.719 --> 00:26:47.879 But then you might be asking, but if God has his elect and that those who are ordained 00:26:47.879 --> 00:26:52.219 to hell and those who are elect to eternal life, well, then what's the point in praying? 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:56.199 Short answer is these aren't things for us to look into. 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:59.359 Like we don't know who's on that list, but God calls us to pray. 00:26:59.459 --> 00:27:00.679 He calls us to evangelize. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:04.039 We'll think about that more in a couple of weeks. 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:07.980 But if anything, this spurs us on in our evangelism and prayers. 00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:15.319 Any more before we look at Romans 9? 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:19.799 Great. 00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.420 Yeah, let's. 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:23.440 So let's look at the next few questions. 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.859 Again, we're going through these slowly. 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:28.559 So according to Paul, who hardens Pharaoh's heart and anyone's heart? 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.940 It's not a trick question. 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.720 Verse 18. 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.299 Yeah, Katya. 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.819 God. 00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.579 God. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:34.940 Right. 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.139 Yeah. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.319 Yeah. 00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:37.740 So thankfully, Paul says the same thing as Exodus. 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.119 Right. 00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:39.279 God. 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:39.779 Right. 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.139 God hardens Pharaoh's heart. 00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:42.599 OK. 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:46.139 But we can now think, OK, well, how does God harden his heart? 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.399 Right. 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.359 Passive hardening. 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:48.559 Reacting core. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.159 Restraint. 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.399 OK. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.539 Question C. 00:27:51.659 --> 00:27:55.079 For what purpose is Pharaoh's heart hardened? 00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:55.299 Right. 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:56.539 So we're now thinking why. 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.500 So we thought about the how. 00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.799 Now here's the why. 00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.319 What purpose? 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.619 Hands up. 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.339 OK. 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:06.419 OK. 00:28:06.739 --> 00:28:08.179 I'll come back to you if no one else said. 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.439 Noah. 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.899 Sorry? 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:12.699 Sorry. 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.259 I might have a different letter. 00:28:14.419 --> 00:28:14.619 C. 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:16.359 For what purpose is Pharaoh's heart hardened? 00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:18.339 To show his wrath and power. 00:28:18.939 --> 00:28:19.379 Yeah. 00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:19.959 Do you see that? 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:21.439 Verse 17. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:23.839 For this very purpose, I've raised you up, Pharaoh. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.000 I've made you Pharaoh. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.279 And I've hardened your heart as well. 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.500 Why? 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:31.859 That I might show my power in you. 00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:34.420 And that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.660 Verse 18. 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.119 Right. 00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:38.480 That this now expands to kind of more than Pharaoh. 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:41.339 For all those whom God hardens hearts. 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:44.799 It's to show his wrath and to make known his power. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:46.779 All right. 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.339 OK. 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.759 So that's what he says. 00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:51.359 Why? 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.139 Now let's just think. 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.579 Question D. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:29:00.119 How does hardening Pharaoh's heart achieve that purpose of displaying God's power and his wrath? 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:02.039 How does it do that? 00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:03.159 Think about the Exodus. 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.079 Yeah, Rory. 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:07.119 Otherwise it's not a rescue. 00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:08.839 So Rory just says they can go. 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:11.779 And God is not actually rescued and taking the land off. 00:29:11.919 --> 00:29:12.359 Okay. 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.500 OK. 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.799 So it's a part of the rescue. 00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:16.339 But how does. 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.699 So you're absolutely right. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.519 Let's probe into that further. 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:23.759 How does God display his wrath and his power in that rescue? 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:26.899 By. 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:30.299 In the past it rather was by judging. 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:34.199 By judging those who reject. 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:34.899 Yeah. 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.839 By judging Pharaoh in Egypt. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:37.159 Right. 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:40.139 The power on Pharaoh by the plagues. 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:43.720 And ultimately his death in the Red Sea. 00:29:44.199 --> 00:29:44.299 Right. 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:50.299 That was God displaying his power in that moment. 00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:56.159 And in fact it shows his judgment and wrath too doesn't it? 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.379 Right. 00:29:56.819 --> 00:30:00.460 That was Pharaoh's reactical rebellious heart. 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.740 And what does God do with it? 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.980 He judges it. 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:05.960 And he reveals his wrath on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:13.900 And God does all that he does in that to display his glory. 00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:14.420 Right. 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:17.420 So we are now getting on why he hardens Pharaoh's heart. 00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:19.560 He does it to display his glory. 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:21.800 Display the majesty of who he is. 00:30:23.060 --> 00:30:25.519 And Paul applies this to all people. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.039 Do you see? 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:28.259 There are vessels of mercy. 00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:29.259 That's his elect. 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:29.559 That's his elect. 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:35.740 Whom God displays his glory and his grace and mercy and kindness towards. 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.059 Right. 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:38.720 So when he does this. 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:41.519 He displays his grace. 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:48.660 And he displays all of that in our lives when he saves us doesn't he? 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:51.740 But for those who remain in sin. 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:55.619 This isn't a stain on God's character. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:56.859 No. 00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:59.019 Something else is revealed about God. 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:02.759 The glory of his wrath and his power. 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:06.539 Is displayed in his hardening of hearts. 00:31:06.879 --> 00:31:08.160 As he judges them. 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:16.500 And this sheds more light on how God can allow evil and be sovereign over it. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.200 Yes. 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:18.860 There is. 00:31:19.040 --> 00:31:19.800 As we thought last week. 00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:26.980 There's the immediate purpose of God disciplines or refines our faith or points towards judgment day. 00:31:27.040 --> 00:31:27.240 Right. 00:31:27.320 --> 00:31:28.460 So there are those purposes. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:31.580 But overall, there is a grander purpose. 00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:37.680 God is sovereign over evil in that his glory is displayed in it. 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:40.000 And we see that in the cross. 00:31:40.100 --> 00:31:40.220 Right. 00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:41.500 Always think back to the cross. 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:47.900 We and we thought about the last last term when we thought about the the atonement. 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:51.400 The cross is the greatest sin in history. 00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:56.180 But at the same time, it was the ultimate display of God's glory. 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.000 Right. 00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:06.440 You look at the cross and you see with greatest clarity, God's wrath, his mercy, his love, his holiness, his faithfulness. 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:11.299 It is displayed in that evil of the crucifixion. 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:15.519 And so that is the case for all evil and sin. 00:32:16.419 --> 00:32:20.680 God has purposed it to display his glory. 00:32:21.879 --> 00:32:23.740 Now, there is mystery to all of this. 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:32.440 We don't always immediately see how the suffering in my life or that atrocity that we read in the news. 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:42.660 We don't always see how that exactly displays God's glory and why God has planned that of all things to display his glory. 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:46.180 But there is a comfort and reassurance in this. 00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.779 Evil is not random. 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:50.160 Evil is not pointless, aimless suffering. 00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:56.920 There is a good reason why evil exists and why God has sovereignly decreed it to happen. 00:32:56.920 --> 00:33:02.440 We can be sure we know that God will get glory from it. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.360 Therefore, there is a good and meaningful reason behind it. 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:12.000 And we will see that in the end, won't we? 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:19.180 In the age to come, all of his elect, what will we be doing in eternity? 00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:22.580 Glorifying God for his grace. 00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:26.080 That's why he elected us to the praise of his glorious grace. 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:29.879 And when evil is judged in that time, what will be seen about God? 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:32.359 His perfect power and justice. 00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:37.039 But some may still answer, but how is all this fair? 00:33:37.879 --> 00:33:40.819 So God electing some but passing by others. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:47.339 Or more broadly, how is it fair God ordaining evil here but not there? 00:33:47.659 --> 00:33:49.599 In my life but not her life? 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:52.179 Well, how does Paul answer that question? 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.039 We're now on E. 00:33:55.039 --> 00:34:00.039 How does Paul answer the question of how is it fair to show compassion on some but not others? 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:10.019 Yeah, Rory. 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.500 Rory, you go for it. 00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:13.940 Yeah. 00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.940 It's an interesting answer, right? 00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:30.940 Paul actually raises the question that's all on our lips when we come to all this, right? 00:34:31.380 --> 00:34:34.199 You will say to me then, why does he still find fault? 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:36.239 For who can resist his will? 00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:40.019 But he doesn't give a neat philosophical answer, does he? 00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.639 Verse 20. 00:34:41.319 --> 00:34:41.979 What's his answer? 00:34:42.979 --> 00:34:45.419 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? 00:34:46.359 --> 00:34:47.339 Well, what is molded? 00:34:47.419 --> 00:34:49.879 Say to his molder, why have you made me like this? 00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:58.760 He simply leaves us with the fact that God is sovereign, God is wise, God is perfect, God is our creator, God has decreed all of this. 00:34:58.760 --> 00:35:07.940 And his ways of predestination and how he is sovereign over evil, we simply aren't meant to neatly understand it. 00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:15.119 We are simply meant to trust God and be humbled under the mystery of his sovereignty. 00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:20.440 These are heavenly, eternal things we're dealing with here. 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:29.059 And so God just wants us to humbly acknowledge him and praise him in this mystery. 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:33.300 And this is basically the message of Job 2 as well. 00:35:33.300 --> 00:35:39.080 Well, this is kind of the conclusion you get as to the why of Job's suffering. 00:35:39.200 --> 00:35:40.380 It's on the back of your page. 00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:45.500 After all his suffering and wondering why God allowed it, what his plan was? 00:35:45.560 --> 00:35:46.380 Look at Job 40. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:52.500 And the Lord said to Job, shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty? 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:55.840 He who argues with God, let him answer it. 00:35:55.840 --> 00:36:01.160 Then Job answered the Lord and said, behold, I'm of small account. 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:03.440 What shall I answer you? 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:05.480 I lay my hand on my mouth. 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:16.440 Sometimes when we are just hit with mystery and the wonders of God like this, we just need to just cover our mouths and stand in awe. 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:27.260 And so if you leave some of these Sunday schools kind of scratching your head or you're just not satisfied with a neat answer, sometimes that's the way it should be. 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:33.480 And just use that kind of mystery to be humbled under God. 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:44.300 I wanted to end this by thinking about how God can then permit the fall. 00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:46.519 Because there is a lingering question, isn't there? 00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:48.039 Okay, so you have the three pillars. 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:50.079 God doesn't commit evil. 00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:51.179 Man is responsible for evil. 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:52.519 God is sovereign over evil. 00:36:53.219 --> 00:36:57.199 And all these three hold together because God purposes evil. 00:36:57.940 --> 00:37:00.659 And we can explain it by passive hardening and passing by. 00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:04.159 God has wisely decreed all that from eternity. 00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:06.779 But then there's a lingering question. 00:37:07.319 --> 00:37:10.519 Okay, but why did there need to be evil at all? 00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:18.299 If God is sovereign over all things and decreed and planned all things, then that must include the fall, surely. 00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:21.920 And that triggered all other evil after it. 00:37:22.559 --> 00:37:26.440 So how could God be good and yet sovereign over that? 00:37:28.460 --> 00:37:29.859 I wanted to go on to that today. 00:37:29.860 --> 00:37:31.180 We'll look at that next week. 00:37:32.680 --> 00:37:33.860 Are there any more questions? 00:37:33.860 --> 00:37:34.200 Thank you. 00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.200