Good Overcomes

In life there are so many areas of our life that require expected behavior. The same is true in our relationship with Jesus. As we walk through this life, encounters with people and situations come our way that require specific, God-honoring responses.

God’s Word

Romans 12:1–13 ESV

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. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:14–21 ESV

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 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. 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.” 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.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

PRAYER

TRUTH: Overcome evil with good

In our passage this morning, listen to the commands believers are called to:

Bless

Rejoice

Live in Harmony

Be Wise

Give Thought to What is Honorable

Never Avenge

Feed

Give Drink

Overcome evil with Good

These nine commands beg a question:

Q: WHY? Bless? Rejoice? Live in harmony? Be wise? Give thought to what is honorable? Never avenge? Feed? Provide drink?

A: All of these things produce a result…overcoming (or conquering) evil.

Christians are specifically called from this Scripture to respond to others in way that is good. The apostle Paul gave many situations of what it looks like to overcome evil with good.

1. Bless those who persecute you

Luke 6:27–28 ESV

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 abuse you.

Luke 6:26-27

Luke 23:34 ESV

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

II.

Paul in Romans echoes the teaching of Jesus.

Rare in our society. Our society says, “Pay back! Get revenge!”

2. Rejoice with those who rejoice; Weep with those who weep

3. Weep with those who weep

Biblical relationships require doing life together. Ups & downs in life will come. They are sure in this life. Expected behavior from Christians celebrate moments in others life with them as well as being present in the low valleys that come.

Identity with others in their joys and sorrows is evidence of love flowing from one who is a living sacrifice.

Q - What does this communicate?

A - The ever-present nearness of our God

3. Live in harmony with one another & Do not be haughty, associate with the lowly; never be wise in your own sight

Q - Why live in harmony with one another? Why associate with the lowly?

Everyone is equal. Everyone is on the same playing field because all have been “leveled” by sin.

Everyone is on the same playing field because all have been “leveled” by sin.

Jewish Christians in the church were trying to maintain a position of superiority over the Gentile believers.

Anyone who has been redeemed has been by only God’s mercy, not from a position, rank, or status. All are in need of God’s mercy poured out through the gospel.

4. Do not be haughty, associate with the lowly

Jesus, Pharisees, and a man with a withered hand

Matthew 12:9–14 ESV

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

In the midst of an evil mindset from the religious elite (Pharisees’), Jesus turned it into good.

>> WE ARE THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND

>> WE WERE THE LOWLY THAT NEEDED MINISTERED TO.

>> WE WERE THE SICK THAT NEEDED HEALING. WE WERE THE LOST THAT NEEDED SOUGHT AFTER AND FOUND.

Therefore, the mind of Christ is what should follow, not our own wisdom.

Philippians 2:5–13 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

5. Repay no one evil for evil; Live peaceably with all; No one avenge others

6. Live peaceably with all

7. No one avenge others

We are not in control of what others do. We are in control of how we respond to others. Jesus has entrusted to his followers the great task of displaying the love of God in the gospel to the world around them. This includes us. We are given the great task of, no matter what, displaying Jesus to those around us, at all times, in any situation.

Christians are called to understand the worlds need for the gospel. Sin automatically puts everyone on the same level.

Jesus once again modeled what this looked like Jesus remained on the cross when He had all authority to come off and pay the blame game.

Romans 23:34

Luke 23:34 ESV

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

In the midst of being mistreated because Jesus, love others and trust God. “Do not avenge” allows an opportunity to trust God. Jesus knew God’s faithful plan and trusted His Father.

8. Provide for enemies

Proverbs 25:21–22 ESV

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, 22 for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Instead of neglecting the needs of your enemy or opponent in life, give to their needs.

Q - Why?

A - God gave towards our greatest need - our depravity. When we were His enemy.

These nine commands beg a question:

Q: WHY? Bless? Rejoice? Live in harmony? Be wise? Give thought to what is honorable? Never avenge? Feed? Provide drink?

A: All of these things produce a result…overcoming (or conquering) evil.

TRUTH: Overcome evil with good

Overcoming evil with good is all about Jesus. The only thing good in any of our lives is Jesus.

Jesus overcame the evil in our lives with good:

The love of God poured out while we were sinner.

Salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus’ name

The blood of Jesus attributed to us.

The Holy Spirit given to empower and guide our lives to love God fully.

Eternal life given

Because of the good from God that overcame our evil/wickedness in our life, the expectation is for believers to display that same good to the world around us.

The world around you and me NEEDS the expected behavior from Christ-followers. Every command in 12:14-20 communicates the love of God in Christ towards sinners who need a Savior.

Closing

A life that is fully giving to Jesus, one that is described in , will by default carry out the expected behavior found in verses 14-21.

Here’s the deal: The good of the gospel in you enables overcoming the evil around you. None of these actions or qualities will be produced apart from the working of the Holy Spirit in you.

Related Media

Related Sermons