Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Can I throw you some possible new thoughts your way?

First, when we say that 'bad things happen to good people' that is not a true saying in fact its a lie.

JESUS made it clear that no one is good except GOD. Luke 18:19
In fact our 'good deeds' are filthy rags. Isa.64:6

You see 'good' is not a character trait its a person - its GOD HIMSELF.

And I certainly are not GOD. (But through JESUS we can participate in the Divine nature) and we are in HIS image. More on that another time.

JESUS further teaches this lesson when HE talks about the tower of Siloam crashing killing people in the process. see Luke 13:4

HIS point, don't think you are better, then the ones that died in the tower collapse. There is none good except GOD alone. Mark 10:18

So, if we say good people are getting hurt, its not true in fact without JESUS GRACE - nobody is good!

JESUS said "how can you being evil say anything good?" Matthew 12:34

You see the law was given to Moses but GRACE and TRUTH came through JESUS. (see John 1:17)
The Law came to show us GOD'S standard and our extreme depravity and wickedness!
(its not even close). It makes it crystal clear GOD'S holiness (HIS LOVE) and our selfishness.

Their is no problem with GOD'S commands / laws, the only problem is when we pretend to keep them (hypocrites) lowering the real meaning of the laws (613 OT laws) and live a lie in our own effort.

That is the wicked sin of un-belief. That produces the curse, that was the orginial sin (doing it my way). Religion, even the Christian one, is us doing things our way. Now, we don't really admit to that, we say we are doing it GOD'S way, but we are only fooled.

We are in fact 'trying' to be good Christians.
The Gospel is recognizing the truth that I am nothing (actually less than nothing) a wicked sinner deserving hell. But seeing GOD'S kindness and love, that HE worked salvation with HIS own arm (Isaiah 63:5) by living perfectly then taking all that I deserve and taking the sin nature on the cross (becoming Sin) not only forgiving my sins but crushing the sin nature in the process. Setting me free from the law of sin and death.

Galatians 2:21 "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

There are different laws, but the law most talked about in the Bible is the Laws Moses gave. There is a contrast between Law and GRACE throughout scripture.

On one side you have 'law' meaning the laws of Moses that you MUST keep.
On the other side you have 'GRACE' meaning JESUS keeping every law and you benefit like you kept them (when JESUS does for you).

So Law basically means 'self effort'.
GRACE basically means 'JESUS effort' for me.

You have all the worlds religions (including the christian ones) and all the clubs,
denominations, churches, temples all one one side...

The other side - JESUS alone.

Secondly, many christians are under the curse (see galatians 1).
They are under the curse (not because GOD put them there) but they put themselves there.

We know in Deuteronomy 28 there are tons of blessings and curses. The blessings when you read that part of scripture sound amazing while the curses sound like reading the newspaper or seeing many of the problems in your own life.

Paul talks in Galatians of JESUS becoming the curse for us.

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" Galatians 3:13

Remember in the garden, man sinned (also Eve and the Devil) and a curse was a direct result.

We are under a curse, if we try to live our christian life, by our own self effort that cuts us off of CHRIST (leaving GRACE) putting us under satan and the curse.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil was man trying to live the 'God Life/christian life in their own way - not GOD'S tree of LIFE (which is JESUS)

JESUS is the life - John 14:6 also John 1:4

If we listen to the sin nature (which is satan himself) that operates in our members see Romans 7 and Ephesians 2:2 where it says: "the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." We will continually try to make our Christianity work, in the endless cycle of trying to overcome the 'sin nature' (which we think is us, but its not) and trying to do right and really it boils down to 'me, me, me'.

That is independent self effort - is under the curse.
Read Galatians 1

6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

This different gospel (which is really no good news at all) was around in Paul's time , JESUS time (on earth) and our time but it goes all the way back to the garden.
Its simply the one ingredient of all religions (including the Christian religion) and it opposes the TRUE GOSPEL (which is good news and news is past tense, we are telling you what already has been done) and that TRUE GOSPEL is JESUS' GRACE and that alone!

All your own effort curses yourself.
The only thing that matters is HIS LIFE flowing through you.
Christian means 'CHRIST in' - meaning HIS LIFE flowing through me, based on me believing (receiving) everything from HIM.

Galatians 3:2-3
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Finally vs 5

5So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Works of the Law - what you do?
or Hearing with Faith - beleiving what JESUS has done?

One produces the curse the other blessing.

Real curses, Real blessings.

Real death, Real life.

Real burden, Real Comfort.


Believe the Gospel -

Believe JESUS.


-eric