Overcoming Evil with Good
Introduction
- Continuing a theme from last week:
- v13 - Distributing to the saints
- v14 - The attitude of love
- Taking up a theme of blessing your enemies
- Many think that Christians are
judgmental, hard, narrow and look down on others - Scripture says we are to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us
- We will stand up but not act in the way the world acts
- We do not respond when people say terrible things about us
- v17-21
- Example of Spurgeon and his neighbour's dog
- This story captures the spirit of the passage
- v17 - repay no evil
- v18 - live at peace
- v19 - no retribution or revenge
- v20 - show love to your enemy
- v21 - do not become by evil
- Overview:
- No revenge
- Be at peace with all men
- Overcoming evil with good
No revenge (v17)
- An Old Testament Scripture: an eye for any eye
- A Jewish Judicial Punishment ...
- But people were applying this personally and taking revenge
- Consider Jesus word's
- People think it is more manly for people to respond with violence
- We are called to be soldiers of love: with weapons of meekness, gentleness and love
- Control your temper and respond with grace is a far more difficult battle
- Lev 19:18 - no personal revenge
- Revenge never does a good thing
- Example of personal revenge in the Old Testament (and its consequences)
- Remember a bee
- The New Testament cites examples of those Christians who would be persecuted
- 1 Pet 2:23, 3:19
- 1 Thess 5:15
- Some circumstances can be very difficult ...
- Examples
- There should be appropriate civil/criminal justice
- ... but there should not be a call for personal revenge
- Quote from Thomas Fuller
- God does judge all unrepentant people
- Beloved, do not avenge yourselves (v19)
- God will not be mocked
- Prov 20:22
- We are not to defend ourselves but leave room for God to defend us
- On the last day all wrongs will be righted
- Example of David
- Let us never be involved in revenge
Be at peace with all men (v18)
- Some people like a quarrel and fight
- Some people would seek to draw you into their conflict
- Quote from Ray Steadman
- Do not get involved in the strife of others
- Actively pursue peace
- Example of Christian Soldier
- We can build bridges, extend a loving hand, show people kindness
- Quote from John McArthur
- Prov 12:20
- 1 Pet 3:11
- Prov 15:1
- Prov 25:15
- Fire does not quench fire
- "Blessed are the peacemakers, these shall be called the children of God" - Jesus Christ
Overcoming evil with good
- Not just to avoid evil but be good
- Prov 25:21-22 cf v20
- How much mercy have we received?
- Have we received an abundance of mercy?
- Should we not show mercy?
- Should we not walk as Christ walked?
- Should we not live as Christ lived?
- Heaping coals
- Some say it is to shame others
- Some say it is for judgment - e.g. John Piper (cf Ps 140:9-10)
- Not clear what the right interpretation is
- God is calling us to overcome evil with God and never to have a revengeful spirit
- Example of Sailors and the dear man
- What happens when evil begins to master us?
- The regret we have for harsh words
- The heaviness of a bitter heart
- The pain we can suffer for inflicting pain on others
- What honour we gain when we return a curse with a blessing
Closing Remarks
- An outworking of v1-2
- Col - "put on the bond of love"
- We need the love of God to enable us