815 Rom.12.14-21 Different Giftings, Same Ethics Pt.2

There is a fable that Satan’s agents were failing in their various attempts to draw into sin a holy man who lived as a hermit in the desert of northern Africa. Every attempt had met with failure; so Satan, angered with the incompetence of his subordinates, became personally involved in the case. He said, “The reason you have failed is that your methods are too crude for one such as this. Watch this.” He then approached the holy man with great care and whispered softly in his ear, “Your brother has just been made Bishop of Alexandria.” Instantly the holy man’s face showed that Satan had been successful: a great scowl formed over his mouth and his eyes tightened up. “Envy,” said Satan, “is often our best weapon against those who seek live their lives for the Son of God.”

----------------------

- The Psalmist wrote a Psalm that deals with the struggle a godly person has with those who prosper in the world, yet get there by doing wrong

For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:3 NASB95

3 For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

- As we seek to honour God with our lives, we are going to witness those who care nothing for God, but who do prosper very nicely

- Of course, this raises the question in our minds, “why does God let this happen”? - those who despise Him, prosper -------------------

- The OT answer lies in the fate of the ungodly

Psalm 73:16–17 NASB95

16 When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight 17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

7 —16 When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight 17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. —21 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, 22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. —27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

Psalm 73:21–22 NASB95

21 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within, 22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

—27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

Psalm 73:27 NASB95

27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

—27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

------------------

- As we come to the NT & our passage today, we can reflect on the ethic that Paul desires all Christians to have – the ethic of love, as defined by God

- Part of the same ethic that we all have is how we treat outsiders

- Outsiders who may be hostile to us

----------------

- This passage deals with a wider scope & not just the Christian community

- Notice the word “anyone” in v.17

- It deals not only with how we treat one another as the Christian community, but also how we treat others outside of our Christian community

- It starts with something that may appear contrary to how we feel & that is in blessing those who persecute us & it finishes with feeding your enemy when he is hungry & giving him a drink when he is thirsty

------------------

- One of the first things to consider is this: “who is my enemy”?

- There's a saying: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”

- It means that there may be a person who is disliked who becomes your “friend” because you both have a common enemy

- A great example of this is Herod & Pilate

---------------------

- It was the very day that Jesus was arrested & was being mocked & badly treated

- He was being toyed with & shuffled around between Herod & Pilate – each one trying the find a satisfying way to get rid of Jesus

- But then, we see this crop up in the text...

Luke 23:12 NASB95

12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

—12 Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.

- The enemy of my enemy is my friend

- The world unites around opposing Jesus

-------------------

- Even today, you'll see people uniting around opposing the church of Jesus

- Opposing the church is opposing Jesus

Q. How did Jesus respond to the evil persecution of Herod & Pilate?

1 Peter 2:23 NASB95

23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

—23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

-----------------

- Our reading today is about how we can show the love of Christ to the world but I think, more importantly, is how we show the world what our future is like

- The world operates under the fallen powers of this age – Satan, demonic forces push people to act in a way contrary to God's will

- He teaches them that might is right & that popularity is truth

- Whereas the Christian who belongs to the new age of God has a diametrically opposed position

-----------------

- When I am weak, I am strong, says Paul

- Instead of the independent streak that sinful man cannot shake off, we have the Christian who, instead, relies & trusts upon a faithful God

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 NASB95

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.

—26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.

- We meet the scorn & hatred of the those outside of Christ with the future reality that we have in Christ

- Our future is on display as we act in likeness to our true character & true destiny

- I imagine some might say, “That a strange title David, for I would have thought that it be better read, “Love seeks Good, not Evil”

- Whilst that is a fair enough title, I don't think it hits the ground as well as pitting love against “self”

- The one reason we don't love is because self competes for your love

- After all, self likes to be number one – true? Of course's it's true

--------------------------

- That's not all bad, because it is quite natural to look after yourself

- We feed & cloth ourselves, preen ourselves in front of a mirror – we do pretty good with loving ourselves

- We run aground when we lose sight of that grandest act of love known to Man

- That Jesus came into the world to give His life that we may live ours & live it eternally

-------------------

- It will start & finish with trusting God with our own life

- If we trust Him, that He will take care of us, it will be a whole lot easier to then give care to other people

- This will require us to dig pretty deep

- The usual human response to someone hurting us is to hurt them back

- We can do that in any number of ways, because it stems from a deep anger & resentment

---------------------

- It, tragically, sneaks up on a Christian & grabs them like this strangler vine

- Here's a thought – we don't like the way the people of the world respond when they are resentful & angry

- Then, consider what we do with our responses

Luke 6:32–33 NASB95

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

—32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

- I find the teaching of Jesus to be so right & good & yet often it seems so difficult to do

- But if you ask me, this sort of teaching is other-worldly

- There is a ring of the divine to it

- It is so true – you are no better than someone else if you criticise them for the very thing you do yourself or pay them back for the very thing you do yourself

or pay them back for the very thing you do yourself

-------------------------------

- Here Paul begins by saying, “bless those who persecute you, bless & do not curse”

- “To bless” is to seek good for someone, while to curse is to seek harm against that person

- Please understand that the curses you read in the Bible are not people using foul language – that's usually what is thought when you hear someone cursing & swearing

- But a “curse” & to “swear” is a formal & binding pronouncement

- An example of this is when you swear on the Bible when making your oath to tell the truth

--------------------

- God cursed the ground because of man's sin – it's fruitfulness was restrained

- He cursed the serpent to crawl on his belly all his days

- The fig tree that Jesus cursed, withered

- When Peter denied Jesus, the third time, we read that he began to curse & swear

- Again, not using foul language, but announcing something like this: “should I be lying about knowing Jesus, may a curse come upon me”

Mark 14:71 NASB95

71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!”

—71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!”

- This truly makes his denial so complete, but he did this in desperation to save his own skin

- It was a critical moment in Peter's life & it revealed to him a deep flaw in his faith

-------------------

- To swear an oath binds you to a course of action or outcome & if you fail in that course, you reap a curse

- Technically, Peter should have reaped a curse, because he did know Jesus

---------------------

- When God made His oath to Abraham in with the smoking pot that passed between those animals that were cut in two - God, by making His oath towards the Covenant with Abraham, is saying that should He fail to keep His part in the Covenant, let Him be as these animals – which were cut in two

- God, by making His oath towards the Covenant with Abraham, is saying that should He fail to keep His part in the Covenant, let Him be as these animals – which were cut in two

------------------------

- There were oaths & pronounced curses that were lethal

- Balak the Ammonite tried to entice Balaam the prophet to curse Israel

Numbers 22:6 NASB95

6 “Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

—6 “Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

- But God did not allow him to curse Israel & he ended up having to bless Israel instead

-----------------------

- When Jephthah made his wildly stupid oath that the first thing that comes through the door of his house, after he had returned from a successful victory will be offered up as a burnt offering to the Lord

- He was forced to keep it, even though it was his daughter that was first to come through the door

--------------------------

- In contrast to the curse is the blessing

- When God pronounces a blessing, good comes to that person

- God blessed Mankind & said to be fruitful & multiply

- He blessed Noah & his sons & told them to be fruitful & multiply

- He blessed Abraham which becomes the basis for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ & His blessings to the world

Genesis 12:2–3 NASB95

2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

—2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

--------------------

- contains the blessings for Israel if they obey God

- He specifies all the good that He will do for them & it includes lots of children, animals, rain; increased produce & plenty of food; enemies defeated; plenty of fruitfulness in whatever they put their hand to

- God sovereignly controls the outcome in life & blesses them in their obedience

- Jesus blessed the food before the people ate; He blessed the people who gathered to hear Him speak

- Jesus blesses the children, laying His hands upon them

- Paul says that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus

-----------------------

- The basis for us being blessed is Jesus & the life that He gladly gave, in love, on the cross

- Paul writes in that while we were helpless, while we were sinners & while we were enemies of God, Christ died for us

- So Jesus is our model upon which we base our love for our persecutors

- Those who desire to harm us, to ridicule us; who seek to bring us down

—12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

1 Corinthians 4:12 NASB95

12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

- And Jesus...

Luke 6:27–28 NASB95

27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

—27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

-------------------

- This got me to think, that if our enemies are to be blessed, how much more a brother or sister in Christ?

- We seriously need to realise who our true enemies really are

- This same love that causes us to bless someone who wants to harm us is the love that seeks to be harmonious with fellow believers

- We should experience this all the time – weeping with those who weep & rejoicing with those who rejoice – we are in union with Christ

- This harmony crosses cultural/ethnic divides since we are all “Man” made in the image of God - & especially so in Christ

----------------

- Ethnic divison has certainly abated somewhat, but it is raising it's ugly head again as an element in society use affirmative action principles to elevate one group of people over another

- Now they claim that this method is to bring equality, but they still use a process of discrimination in order to obtain their goal

- But this goal is an illusion – Utopian models are all bound to fail because they are driven by sinful human beings

- Dividing people into groups as the more progressive & liberal elements of society do, will eventuate in further dividing society along ethnic/racial & social group identities

-------------------

- We need to replace the idea of earthly groups centred around race & ethnicity with a heavenly one – of union with Christ

- This group is where all belong equally

—27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:27–28 NASB95

27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

- This doesn't mean there are unique differences between us

- The truth is that all in Christ belong equally to the kingdom of God

—8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8–9 NASB95

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Q. When we were a kid, do you ever remember a time when you wanted to get at some kid for doing something to you that you didn't like?

- When we get hurt, the temptation is to react & respond in ways that most times, years down the track, we regret

- Isn't it interesting that years make the difference in our evaluation of how we handled a situation

- The problem we have is that we are too embroiled, emotionally, in the situation & we made a decision or judgement to respond in a certain way, based on our emotions during that time

------------------------

- The wise person should learn from this reality & apply those truths to the situations that come up before us in life

- Ask yourself the question: “Will anything I do & say now, come back to bite me later”?

- As we are seeking to not conform to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind so we can ascertain the good & perfect will of God, are we taking this into account when we are unhappy about a person or persons

Q. What would Jesus do?

Romans 12:17–18 NASB95

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

—17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

- The apostle says, “never pay back evil for evil to anyone”, making this a general principle to apply to both Christians & non-Christians alike

- As far as it is possible, he says, “respect what is right in the sight of all people”

- In some cases it is not possible

- As far as it is possible, he says, “respect what is right in the sight of all people”

- In some cases it is not possible

- If your boss asks you to do something unethical, or you lose your job, then that would be one scenario where you cannot get on with everyone

- In some cases it is not possible

- If your boss asks you to do something unethical, or you lose your job, then that would be one scenario where you cannot get on with everyone

- But to the extent we can be at peace with all people, then we should

- If your boss asks you to do something unethical, or you lose your job, then that would be one scenario where you cannot get on with everyone

- But to the extent we can be at peace with all people, then we should

-------------------------

- But to the extent we can be at peace with all people, then we should

-------------------------

- In this passage, Paul says that love is incompatible with revenge

- But this is entirely different from justice

- In this passage, Paul says that love is incompatible with revenge

- But this is entirely different from justice

- At a human level, we have governments that impose laws & ensure that justice is done

- But this is entirely different from justice

- At a human level, we have governments that impose laws & ensure that justice is done

- We are not, personally, to make judgements & carry out sentences upon people in whatever way we think is necessary because God is judge & executioner of justice

-------------------

- We are not, personally, to make judgements & carry out sentences upon people in whatever way we think is necessary because God is judge & executioner of justice

- We are not, personally, to make judgements & carry out sentences upon people in whatever way we think is necessary because, apart from God sanctioned human government, God is judge & executioner of justice

-------------------

- So Paul says to leave room for the justice of God

-------------------

- So Paul says to leave room for the justice of God

- If you, in your feeble attempts, to pursue an eye for an eye & tooth for a tooth, then you actually take away from God's judgement

- So Paul says to leave room for the justice of God

- If you, in your feeble attempts, to pursue an eye for an eye & tooth for a tooth, then you actually take away from God's judgement

- In fact, I think there is a clear recognition here that in treating the evildoer properly renders them with no excuses before God

- If you, in your feeble attempts, to pursue an eye for an eye & tooth for a tooth, then you actually take away from God's judgement

- In fact, I think there is a clear recognition here that in treating the evildoer properly renders them with no excuses before God

------------------

- So clearly, as we have been speaking about for weeks, we should have a future-oriented mentality

------------------

- So clearly, as we have been speaking about for weeks, we should have a future-oriented mentality

- In other words, we should have faith – a faith that looks to the future vindication from God

B. J. Honeycutt, a character on 70's T.V. series “M.A.S.H.,” gave this reason for why he didn’t give in to temptation in the midst of the Korean War: “I live in an insane world where nothing makes sense. Everyone around me lives for the now, because there may not be a tomorrow. But I have to live for tomorrow, because for me there is no now.” For Honeycutt, his hope for the future was seeing his family again. That hope was sufficient to define how he would behave in an extremely difficult situation. How much more so, should our future hope of the kingdom of God shape how we live now?

- What God is saying to us is this: “Let Me be the one to bring about justice, not you. If you do attempt to bring about justice yourself, you take away My right to avenge wrongs committed”

B. J. Honeycutt, a character on 70's T.V. series “M.A.S.H.,” gave this reason for why he didn’t give in to temptation in the midst of the Korean War: “I live in an insane world where nothing makes sense. Everyone around me lives for the now, because there may not be a tomorrow. But I have to live for tomorrow, because for me there is no now.” For Honeycutt, his hope for the future was seeing his family again. That hope was sufficient to define how he would behave in an extremely difficult situation. How much more so, should our future hope of the kingdom of God shape how we live now?

- What God is saying to us is this: “Let Me be the one to bring about justice, not you. If you do attempt to bring about justice yourself, you take away My right to avenge wrongs committed”

- This is the essence of what that reference to burning coals means

- What God is saying to us is this: “Let Me be the one to bring about justice, not you. If you do attempt to bring about justice yourself, you take away My right to avenge wrongs committed”

Romans 12:19–20 NASB95

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

- This is the essence of what that reference to burning coals means

—19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”

- This is the essence of what that reference to burning coals means

- This last line is a quote from Proverbs (25) & it has an interesting meaning

—19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”

- When you treat your enemy well, you heap burning coals on his head

- This last line is a quote from Proverbs (25) & it has an interesting meaning

- When you treat your enemy well, you heap burning coals on his head

-----------------

- There have been plenty of suggestions as to what this is, from causing a person to repent to causing them to feel shame

- But it seems to me, along with many others, that the burning coals speaks of judgement

- This is a quote from Proverbs (25) & it has an interesting meaning

- It means that the judgement of God will fall upon that person due to the action of a person who refuses to live by vengeance

- But it seems to me, along with many others, that the burning coals speaks of judgement

- When you treat your enemy well, you heap burning coals on his head

- It means that the judgement of God will fall upon that person due to the action of a person who refuses to live by vengeance

------------------

- It means that the judgement of God will fall upon that person due to the action of a person who refuses to live by vengeance

-----------------

- There have been plenty of suggestions as to what this is, from causing a person to repent to causing them to feel shame

- But it seems to me, along with many others, that the burning coals speaks of judgement

------------------

- Some have rejected this, saying that it doesn't make sense in light of the context which is to desire the good of the person, not evil

- It means that the judgement of God will fall upon that person due to the action of a person who refuses to live by vengeance

- Yet, I'm not convinced that is a valid objection

- Some have rejected this, saying that it doesn't make sense in light of the context which is to desire the good of the person, not evil

------------------

- Some have rejected this, saying that it doesn't make sense in light of the context which is to desire the good of the person, not evil

- Yet, I'm not convinced that is a valid objection

- Notice what Jesus does...

—23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

1 Peter 2:23 NASB95

23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

- Notice what Jesus does...

—23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

- This speaks to that fact that Jesus did not deny justice which comes upon the persons who sought to harm Him, but the fact that He would not join them by reciprocating those actions

—23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

- This speaks to that fact that Jesus did not deny justice which comes upon the persons who sought to harm Him, but the fact that He would not join them by reciprocating those actions

- Instead, He entrusts all judgement to God

- This speaks to that fact that Jesus did not deny justice which comes upon the persons who sought to harm Him, but the fact that He would not join them by reciprocating those actions

- Instead, He entrusts all judgement to God

-----------------------

- Instead, He entrusts all judgement to God

-----------------------

- Burning coals at various places in the OT speaks clearly of judgement

-----------------------

- Burning coals at various places in the OT speaks clearly of judgement

—10 “May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.

- Burning coals at various places in the OT speaks clearly of judgement

Psalm 140:10 NASB95

10 “May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.

—10 “May burning coals fall upon them; May they be cast into the fire, Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.

- The issue is not that justice is ignored, but that love is kept free of evil

- The last verse encapsulates this well

—21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

- The last verse encapsulates this well

Romans 12:21 NASB95

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

—21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

- The big challenge for the Christian community in all this is show love to one another

- Hurt & bitterness is real, but let us handle this by trusting God with whatever hurtful situation we face

- Treat people well & don't act as if you have to pay them back hurt for hurt, bitterness for bitterness

----------------------

- Treat people well & don't act as if you have to pay them back hurt for hurt, bitterness for bitterness

----------------------

- When we do that, we are no better than those who hurt us

----------------------

- When we do that, we are no better than those who hurt us

- Remember, Jesus was hurt by people too, but it was no reflection on what God thought of His Son

- When we do that, we are no better than those who hurt us

- Remember, Jesus was hurt by people too, but it was no reflection on what God thought of His Son

- In fact, it gave rise to His exultation as the name that is above every name

- Remember, Jesus was hurt by people too, but it was no reflection on what God thought of His Son

- In fact, it gave rise to His exultation as the name that is above every name

- We are all very different, but we are one body in Christ

- In fact, it gave rise to His exultation as the name that is above every name

- We are all very different, but we are one body in Christ

- Don't let our words & actions betray the truth of today's passage

815 Rom.12.14-21 Different Giftings, Same Ethics Pt.2

Different Giftings, Same Ethics Pt.2

Different Giftings, Same Ethics Pt.2

1. Love Seeks Good, Not Self

1. Love Seeks Good, Not Self

2. Love Is Incompatible with Revenge v.17-21.

2. Love Is Incompatible with Revenge v.17-21.

Summary

Summary

Summary

Summary