Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Analytical
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Tone of specific sentences
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When a man shot and killed several people on a NYC subway,
Gov.
Mario Cuomo was asked what we should do.
He said, “I know one thing we should not do . .
."
And from that point he went on and spoke out against capital punishment.
When Timothy McVeigh blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City government building on April 19, 1995.
168 people were killed; 19 were children.
He was executed in June 11, 2001.
There were people who protested his execution.
In June 2002, a murderer was put to death in MS.
The protesters at that execution accused society of murder.
We could go on for some time with this sort of thing.
But my point is actually a simple one.
More and more capital punishment is in the news.
I want to share with you what God says about capital punishment.
So, I want you to have an open Bible in our hand.
Now, I want to say further as we think about the death penalty, that many Christians –
sincere Christians –
people who love the Lord with all their hearts –
and are Bible-believing Christians –
have nontheless allowed the liberal element to cloud their
understanding of God's Word in this particular area.
Now as we decide about capital punishment, we're not going to be able to decide by gallup poll.
And we're not going to be able to decide by sentiment, but by the Word of God.
The problem is not with the Word of God; the problem is with society.
Mankind has gotten to the point where they think everyone's opinion on a matter is just as valid as someone else's.
And while everyone has a right to their own opinion, they think that theirs is just as valid as God's.
But contrary to popular opinion, God does not just give His opinion; God simply tells how it is.
Again, God does not just give His opinion; God simply tells us how it is.
And from that point, the case is closed.
In Romans 12, we have the Christian's three-fold relationship.
First of all, there is
*1.
**The Christian's Relationship to God.*
Rom.
12:1 says,
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
That's our relationship to God.
We're to give ourselves to God totally, completely, without reservation.
And of course, in light of Calvary, the mercies of God, it is absolutely reasonable that we should do this.
But not only do we have a relationship to God, but we also have
*2.
**Our Relationship to Other Christians.*
Our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Here, Paul speaks of that relationship beginning vv.
9-16.
In these verses, the Bible says that we are to love one another and be devoted to one another.
Now, beginning in verse 17 and following, he talks about
*3.
**Our Relationship to Those Who Are Lost.*
* *
Listen to what God says in vv.
17-21.
READ.
"17 Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore 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.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
Now, this is the relationship that we're going to be dealing with now.
What is the Christian's point of view toward evil people – people who would harm the Christian…
People who would do him bodily harm or any other kind of harm.
First, there is
*A.
**A Divine Prohibition.*
God gives us a very severe prohibition.
God says that we're not to take vengeance on those who would harm us.
Notice v. 19 –
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
We as Christians are absolutely forbidden to take revenge.
It is not up to us to seek personal revenge.
As a matter of fact, we're to give place to wrath.
That means that we are to step back.
As much as is in us, we're to live peaceably with all men.
Jesus said that we are to turn the other cheek.
We are not to try to get even.
Now, for us, therefore, to take revenge, is to steal from God.
Just as some steal from God by holding on to God's tithes, so to take revenge is taking something that rightfully belongs to God.
And when you take it, you have taken something that does not belong to you.
It belongs to God.
So, there is a prohibition in v. 19.
But that prohibition also comes with a promise.
And the promise is this:
"19 *I will repay, saith the Lord."*
You don't have to worry about it.
God is going to repay.
Now, when the Bible says, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves," what happens to us?
We say,
"Hold it right there.
You mean I'm supposed to take all of this?
Do you mean that I'm to let that two-legged rascal get by with that?
No.
It's not a matter of him getting by with it.
He's not going to get by with it.
Because with the Divine Prohibition, there is a Divine Promise with
*B.
**A Divine Prerogative.
God takes vengeance.*
God says, "I will repay."
And God will do a better job than you can do.
God knows exactly what punishment he needs.
God knows exactly when he needs it.
So, there is a divine promise.
God says, "I will repay."
It may be in this life;
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