In this sermon "The Pain of the World and the Purposes of God," Pastor John Piper addresses the difficult question of why God allows suffering in the world. He begins by acknowledging that the problem of suffering is a real one, and that it is often difficult to reconcile with our belief in a loving and all-powerful God.
Piper then goes on to offer four reasons why God might allow suffering in the world:

To display his glory. Piper argues that the suffering of the world is a parable of the horrors of sin. It shows us how evil sin is, and how much we need to be saved from it.
To conform us to the image of Christ. Piper teaches that suffering can help us to become more like Christ, who suffered and died for our sins. When we suffer, we learn to rely on God, to forgive others, and to love our enemies.
To provide opportunities for compassion and service. Piper argues that suffering can create opportunities for us to show compassion and mercy to others. When we suffer, we are more likely to empathize with those who are suffering, and we are more likely to be moved to help them.
To prepare us for eternal glory. Piper reminds us that this life is temporary, and that suffering will one day be abolished. When we suffer in this life, we are storing up treasures for the afterlife, where we will experience perfect joy and peace.

Piper concludes by acknowledging that the problem of suffering is still a mystery, but that we can trust that God is good and that he is working all things together for our good.
In summary, Piper says that God allows suffering in the world to display his glory, to conform us to the image of Christ, to provide opportunities for compassion and service, and to prepare us for eternal glory.

Date Preached: April 26, 2015
Passage: Romans 8:18–25 
For more information about this sermon, please visit Desiring God Ministries or click here.



Copyright Notice:

By John Piper. © Desiring God Foundation. Source: desiringGod.org
John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For more than thirty years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis. He is author of more than fifty books, and his sermons, articles, books, and more are available free of charge at desiringGod.org.
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