BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINES Bible Study Guide. BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINES | LESSON 4 – “Why So much Suffering?” INTRODUCTION With so much evil, unfairness and corruption

BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINESBible Study Guide

Lesson 4Why So Much

Suffering?

BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINES | LESSON 4 – “Why So much Suffering?”

INTRODUCTION

With so much evil, unfairness and corruption in the world, the question is often asked, “where does all of this evil come from?” If God is so good and powerful, why doesn't He do something about the evil that exists? Why do the innocent suffer, while the wicked continue to prosper? In this Bible study lesson, we will seek to give Biblical answers to these questions and more?


1. Is God responsible for suffering and sin that exist in the world? 1 John 4:8; Jeremiah 31:3“He that ___________ knoweth not God; for God is ____________.”“The ____________ hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have ________________ with an _________________:”

Loveth notlove

lordloved

Everlasting love


NOTE

The Bible says that “God is love.” Love is the basis on which God operates. The Bible also refers to God's love as everlasting. This means that as long as God exists, love has been the foundation of His government and operation. Therefore, God is not the One responsible for the evil that exists in the world.


2. Who first committed sin? 1 John 3:8a;

“He that committeth sin is of the ____________; for the __________ sinneth from the beginning.”

DevilDevil


NOTE

The Bible declares that sin originated with Satan (the Devil). He is the first one to sin—to raise up rebellion against God's government and as a result, has brought suffering and disobedience into this world.


3. What was Satan's name before he sinned? Where was he living at that time? Isaiah 14:12. Luke 10:18.

“How art thou fallen from _______________, O ____________, son of the morning!”

“And he said unto them, I beheld ___________ as lightning fall from _________________.”

Heaven

Lucifer

Satan

Heaven


NOTE

Satan originates from heaven. He was called Lucifer, which means, “light bearer” or “day star”. He dwelt in heaven as an angel of God before he sinned.


4. Who created Lucifer? What was he like when he was created? What responsible position did he hold? Ezekiel 28:12-15.

“Thou sealest up the sum, full of _______________, and perfect in ______________. Thou hast been in ________________; every precious stone was thy __________,

Thou art the anointed ____________ that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the ____________ of God; . . . . .Thou wast ____________ in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till _________________ was found in thee.”

wisdombeauty Eden the garden of God

covering

cherubHoly mountain

prefect

iniquity


NOTE

God created Lucifer and appointed him as an anointed cherub—meaning that he stood next to God's throne. He held a high position among the angels. He was perfect in all his ways, full of wisdom and beauty and he was in the holy mountain of God.


5. What happened in Lucifer's life that led him to sin? What blasphemous sin did he commit? Ezekiel 28:17; Isaiah 14:13, 14.

“Thine ____________ was _____________ because of thy beauty, thou hast _____________ thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness:”

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will __________ into heaven, I will ____________ my throne above the stars of God: . . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like _________________.”

heart Lifted up

Currupted

ascend

exalt

The most high


Lucifer’s main sin was pride and a desire to be “like God”. He wanted to take God’s position.


6. What happened in heaven as a consequence of Lucifer's rebellion? Revelation 12:7-9.

“And there was _______________ in heaven: Michael and his angels ____________ the dragon; and _________ fought and his angels, . . . . And the great dragon _________________, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: _________________ into the ____________, and his angels were cast out with him.”

War

fought The dragon

Was cast out

He was cast out earth


7. Where is Satan's present headquarters? How does he feel about people? Job 2:2; 1 Peter 5:8.

“And the ____________ said unto Satan, From ___________________? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From ________________________, and from walking up and down in it.“Be __________, be _____________; because your _________________ the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may ____________________:

lordWhence cometh thou

Going to and fro in the earth

Sober vigilantadversary

Devourer


NOTE

Lucifer, turned Satan, currently dwells on the earth, going about, the Bible says, “seeking whom he may devour” (see also Revelation 12:12).


8. Will Sin and Satan continue to exist forever? Matthew 25:41.

“Then shall he say also unto them on the ______________, _____________, ye cursed, into ____________, prepared for the _______________and his angels:”

Left hand

Depart from me Everlasting firedevil


NOTE

God has a plan to destroy Satan, Sin, and Death in the fires of hell at the last day.


9. Who makes the final and complete eradication of sin and Satan from the universe a certainty? 1 John 3:8b

“For this purpose the __________________ was manifested, that he might ________________ the works of the ___________.”

Son of GodDestroy

devil


NOTE

Through the death of Jesus Christ on behalf of man, God has rescued this world from sin and has sealed the fate of Satan—to destruction.


10. How can we overcome the power of Satan, while living in this world? (Revelation 12:10, 11; James 4:7, 8)

”And they _________________ by the _______________, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their _________ unto the ____________.”“Submit yourselves therefore to _________. ___________the devil, and he will _______ from you. _____________to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

Overcame him

Blood of the lamblives

death

God

resist flee

Draw nigh


NOTE

We can overcome the Devil through a connection with God through Jesus Christ.


MY DECISION

I believe that God always loves me. I believe that there is a Devil who seeks to deceive and destroy. I pledge to commit my life to Jesus, so that I can overcome the Devil and sin.

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BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINES Bible Study Guide. BASIC BIBLE DOCTRINES | LESSON 4 – “Why So much Suffering?” INTRODUCTION With so much evil, unfairness and corruption