Rom 12:17-21
Notes
Transcript
The first 11 chapters of Romans are a theological explanation of the gospel. The mercy and grace of God for the Jewish people and non-Jewish people.
A few weeks ago, we crossed over from Paul’s theological explanation into his practical application of the theology
Chapter 12 starts like this
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Upside-down way of living
The past few weeks, Pastor Calvin had been working through verse 3-16 with you. These verses are primarily talking about how to live within the church. How does a transformed person show love to his brothers and sisters in christ?
Verse 17 is a shift from dealings with Believers to dealings with unbelievers
The subject we’re gonna be looking at today is how we react when people do something wrong to us. What do we do when we are the victims of injustice and sin?
As I thought about this subject this week, it became obvious to me that in our society We love revenge We have kind of made it into a good thing and you can see that in our entertainment:
Taken 1,2,3,4,etc.. cv
John Wick 1,2,3,4 etc.
Gladiator 1,2…
The count of monte cristo
Braveheart
If you’re a country music person
Before he cheats - carrie underwood
Goodbye Earl the chicks
Gunpowder and lead miranda lambert
The Night that the Lights went out in Georgia
If you’re a hip hop music person
Many Men - 50 Cent
Hit em Up - Tupac
east coast/west coast, Dis tracks, beef
We love it! We love it to DEATH .
Why do we love it?
We have a longing for justice.
We see those in power do nothing or actively participate in injustice themselves
We want satisfaction NOW
Like so many thing’s we take what is Good, a longing for justice and pervert it with sin against our fellow man.
This is something Jesus himself talked about during his ministry here on earth:
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
That’s radical. That’s different. That’s hard.
Today we’re going to look at the transformed way to react when people are wrong and we’re gonna look at level one and then we’re going to look at the advanced level two so let’s jump right into it
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Level 1.
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Level 2
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Level 1.
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Level 1.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
In A few minutes, we’re going to get into the topic of revenge. “Repaying evil for evil” so I’m going to address that more fully later.
Instead of doing what comes naturally to us or what is logical, As transformed people, Paul calls us to something different:
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Be a Peacemaker
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Be a Peacemaker
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Be a force of peace. When you enter a situation, is it more peaceful?
Living a A transformed life, full of love,Concern for others,Selflessness and empathy goes a long way to eliminating many conflicts .
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Is peace always possible? No, but that’s not what this verse says. It says “so far as it depends on you..”
Unfortunately, In many the situations that arise in my life and many of the situations that I see arise in the lives of people in this body, we can’t fully say this.
If possible, as far as it depends on you.
If possible, as long as everyone respects me
If possible, as long as they don’t cross the line
If possible, unless they embarrass me
This requires supernatural humility.
We are not talking about low self-esteem “I’m a worm, I deserve to be treated badly”
Before we move on, I want to mention that “as far as it depends on you” does not mean at all costs
We should not sacrifice truth for the sake of peace.
There is a temptation to do this because certain aspects of the gospel are offensive. You are a sinner. Your lifestyle is sin. God loves you we love you, but you are not OK as you are. What you are teaching As Christian goes against the revealed word of God and you need to stop.
Those messages can be delivered in a loving gentle way, but there are times where that truth leads to conflict and I don’t think we need to shy away from that.
So we’re supposed to stick our head in the sand and just get beat on and pretend that everything’s OK?
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Trust God for Justice
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Trust God for Justice
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
The desire for justice is a good thing. Justice is good.
What about the fact that Justice does not always seem to come. Even when we are patient.
We see this tension displayed throughout the Psalms
1 O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! 3 O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. 5 They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
I think most people have it sometimes felt this way and I know for a fact that some of us now feel this way
Jesus Example:
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
ok thats Jesus. Jesus is God. The Bible tells us that Jesus and the father are one. Of course HE could trust God.
Why can we trust God for Justice?
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! 34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? 35 And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? 36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Why can we trust God? Why would we live in this illogical way? Why would we adopt this “losers mentality”? Why would we sacrifice ourselves? Because, as Rom 12:1 tells us: we live “in view of his mercy”
Real justice comes from the ultimate authority.
If we are on the throne in our lives, we must seek our own justice
When God is on the throne we receive mercy and trust in him for justice
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
God’s vengeance, his wrath is real and it is not the ying and yang of his love, God’s love can not be separated from his justice and wrath against evil
God’s wrath against injustice and sin is Very bad, very deserved, very inevitable
23 He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.
This should impact our worship and our evangelism
A persons actions or inactions towards you are never an excuse for sin.
A persons actions or inactions towards you are never an excuse for sin.
Level 1, Be a peacemaker, trust God for justice
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Level 2
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Level 2
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Who are our enemies? It's possible that you would say I don't have any enemies
I I think it's true that most people don't have someone who is out to get them in a physical sense so does this passage have no application for us?
Are there people in your life who are happy or smug about your failures?
Do you have bitterness (un-forgiveness) in your heart toward someone?
Does someone get on your nerves?
Do you lack patience and grace with individuals?
These are the people that I think we should have in mind
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Look for opportunities to do good (Pray, help, give, encourage)
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Look for opportunities to do good (Pray, help, give, encourage)
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
WHY? Why should I do good to somebody who is not doing good to me?
Because you too are a sinner who needs the mercy of God.
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
And how is our father, merciful?
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Instead of seeing ourselves as a good guy who does not deserve to be mistreated, See ourselves as sinners who need a savior and are only saved because of grace and mercy, not merit or personal holiness
Instead of seeing others actions as primarily against ME, See others sin (even when it is directly towards us and effects us directly) is primarily a sin against God.
Instead of being insecure and anxious about our life and future See ourselves as justified before God and deeply loved
Instead of reacting to the things people do to us and letting enemies control us, See ourselves as submitted to and controlled by God
Instead of thinking I have to look out for myself because no one else will, See God as faithful, just and trustworthy
Heap burning coals:
The more a person does you harm and you in turn do good to them, in God’s economy, they are catching more and more charges.
It is possible, that as their charges mount, they will see the error of their ways and repent.
If they do wrong and then you seek revenge then they see it as a the game of life that they are winning or losing.
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Look for opportunities to share the gospel.
The Transformed way to react when people wrong you - Look for opportunities to share the gospel.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We should not want to destroy evil PEOPLE we should want to see them redeemed
2 ways for evil to be overcome.
The Just wrath of God poured out on the sinner.
The Just wrath of God poured out on Jesus in the sinners place.
So What?
So What?
The wages of sin is death. The just wrath of God. Are you under the wrath of God today or have you believed in Jesus as your savior And stand Forgiven in the mercy of God
The wages of sin is death. The just wrath of God. Are you under the wrath of God today or have you believed in Jesus as your savior And stand Forgiven in the mercy of God
Think about your enemies remember, we talked about that list. It may not be an enemy like someone who is out to do physical harm, but people who might fit that definition in your life.
Can you honestly say in those relationships that as far as it depends on you, you have been at peace?
Can you honestly say in those relationships that as far as it depends on you, you have been at peace?
Have you gone after vengeance? Have you contributed to the problem? Have you escalated the problem? Maybe if you’re honest, you even started the problem.
That doesn’t point people to God. .
Repent today. Trust God today.
What will you do this week to do good to that person?
What will you do this week to do good to that person?
