(Romans 12:17-21)
“Recompense
to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men. 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst,
give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
I. HOW WE ARE TO RESPOND TO EVIL
A. REPAY NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL...
“See that none
render evil for evil unto any man;
but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
2. He is not alone in this prohibition
a. Solomon's counsel in Proverbs
“Say not
thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save
thee.”
b. Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount
“But I say
unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also.”
c. Peter's writing in his epistle
“Not
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
B. REPLY TO EVIL WITH GOOD...
1. Note first what our concern is to be
*Romans 12:17,18*
a. To have regard for good things in the sight
of others
b. To live peaceably with others if at all
possible
2. Therefore, our response to evil is to reply
with good
*Romans 12:20*
a. As David exemplified in his dealings with
King Saul
“And he said
to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast
rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.”
b. As Solomon counseled, and Paul quoted
“If thine enemy be hungry, give
him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:22For thou shalt heap
coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”
c. As Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount
“Ye have
heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39But I
say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy
right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if
any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41And
whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to
him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou
away.43Ye have
heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine
enemy. 44But I
say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you;”
-- Note carefully that the response is to be one
of aggressive
good will and kindness
[People normally respond differently, depending
upon their ability
(e.g., vengeance, self-defense, passive
resistance, running away,
helpless victim). Yet Christians are taught to respond with
love. Why?
Paul explains...]
II. WHY WE ARE TO RESPOND WITH GOOD
A. VENGEANCE BELONGS TO GOD...
1. Vengeance is a Divine prerogative
“Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
a. He certainly possesses the ability to
administer it justly
“The
burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.2God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the
LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance
on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.3The
LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and
will not at all acquit the
wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the
storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.4He rebuketh
the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth,
and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.5The
mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his
presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.6Who can
stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger?
his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.7The
LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of
trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.8But
with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and
darkness shall pursue his enemies.”
1) He is slow to anger
2) He knows the hearts of men
b. He has the tools to administer vengeance
1) E.g., governing authorities
“Let every
soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the
powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the
ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.
Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou
shalt have praise of the same: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou
do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he
is the minister of God, a revenger toexecute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
2) E.g., giving man up to the depravity of his
sins
“For the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because
that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.20For the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that
they are without excuse: 21Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but
became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And
changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore
God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.26For
this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did
change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And
likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and
receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.28And
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a
reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being
filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters,
haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things,
disobedient to parents, 31Without
understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable,
unmerciful: 32Who
knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of
death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
3) E.g., the coming of the Lord in flaming fire
“And to you
who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from
heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
2. Therefore we are to give place to wrath
a. The wrath of man does not produce the
righteousness of God
“Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to
wrath: 20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
b. The wrath of man is more often a work of the
flesh
Galatians
5:19-21
“Now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
**If you would like to give your heart to Jesus today, repeat these words below:
'Dear Heavenly Father,i come to in the name of Jesus; Forgive me a sinner and wash me in your precious blood. Make this heart of stone to be made flesh, so that your word may be sown in it. Any addictions that i may have, remove them now in Jesus name! I've accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and believe that He died and rose from the dead! And from this day forward, i commit my life to you and seek for guidance and understanding in your word, as i walk in your path of righteousness, In Jesus name i pray, AMEN!!!'
If you have recited these words and meant them in your heart, you are saved and if the Lord would come today, you will be ready to go to Heaven!! I will keep you all in prayer, to continue to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ our Lord. READ, PRAY, SEEK and TRUST in Him and you will overcome this wicked world! **
I have also provided a link to the Full Gospel Holiness Church below, where you will find sermons from the word of God (no comprising to sin) but the Full truth to the Word of God! You can also view our contact information to email us or call us for prayer. May God bless you!
http://www.fghconline.com/
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