Romans 12:17-21

Please turn in your copy of God's Word to Romans, chapter 12.

Romans 12 · chapter mention

! We'll continue our journey, our march together, verse by verse, through the book of Romans.

! And we have come now to the practical part of the text.

As Paul has in the first 11 chapters, given us the great doctrine of the gospel,

the gospel that comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, forever,

he's turned now at the end of 11 and the beginning of 12 to help us, to show us what that now looks like in practice.

What are the practical implications of all of these great truths?

And lest we forget, he begins by saying, verse 1, verse 2,

that we are to, now as our reasonable service, as the obvious thing we should be doing in response to the glorious truth of the gospel,

we should be giving ourselves, all of us, as a living sacrifice.

Offering ourselves up to his service.

And we do that by the renewing of our mind, so that we'll be transformed, so that we'll know what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And I've been asserting to you that he doesn't leave that in the wind for us,

but that he goes on to talk about what is good and acceptable and perfect.

He lays out for us the model of Christian living.

We've talked about verse 9, about letting love be genuine.

Genuine love.

Unhypocritical love.

The love that is characterized by abhorring evil and holding fast to good.

That this is the summary.

This is the probably oversimplified summary of what godliness looks like.

What a life offered holy to god looks like is a life that expresses that reality in genuine, unhypocritical love.

And as we've tried to look at and kind of break down, we've got this overarching exhortation to genuine love,

merciful, self-sacrificial, subservient love.

We've tried to break down these exhortations and look at them piecemeal, as challenging as that is often,

as we look at the scriptures, to see that he calls us to genuinely love the saints, verses 10-13.

Last week we talked about genuine love to all people, generally, in verses 15 and 16.

And so we see the scope then of the church and the world.

But then he narrows it back down for us a bit to talk about the group that would be most difficult to love genuinely.

And that is your enemies.

You see this in verse 14 and then 17-21, which I recognize is a bit of an odd way to break this up.

I wrestled immensely on doing it this way.

But I think you'll see the tie-in.

I hope you'll see the tie-in together in just a moment.

So let's read together, beginning in verse 14 through the end of the chapter.

Bless those who persecute you.

Bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice.

Weep with those who weep.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.

Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one evil for evil,

but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

If possible, so far as it depends on you,

live peaceably with all.

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.

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 heat burning coals on his head.

Do not be overcome by evil,

but overcome evil with good.

Let's pray together.

Father God, we thank you for the blessing of your word.

It is a grace to us.

Thank you also for the church,

the office of pastor,

the gift in varying levels to teach.

And because the realities of the gospel exist,

we all have,

those of us who have placed faith in Christ,

your spirit abiding within us.

So I pray this morning that by your spirit,

I will preach well.

I will unfold the meaning of this text well.

And that by your spirit,

we will hear it.

And we will have it applied to our hearts

that they might be tenderized

towards those we may consider our enemies.

I pray this in Christ's name.

Amen.

So verse 14, we have the exhortation to

bless those who persecute you.

Bless and do not curse them.

The most difficult group of people to love.

Those who hate you.

Those who persecute you.

Those who ridicule.

Who potentially,

as you may be sent out all over this world,

physically would harm you,

imprison you,

beat you.

Right?

The call is a high call.

It's not particularly complicated.

It's a fairly simple concept,

but it is incredibly profound.

It flips humanity,

who the fallen human state is,

it flips it around.

Right?

Because what we tend to do as people

is we tend to stand our ground

and defend our rights.

Somebody pokes us,

we hit them back.

Right?

And that is not the calling to the Christian.

Right?

The calling to the Christian

is to turn the edge of the cheek.

The calling to the Christian

is to go the extra mile.

Right?

The calling to the Christian

is to give what hasn't even been asked for

to those who are persecuting us.

And you'll remember last week,

if you weren't here,

we talked extensively about

verse 15 and 16 and 17

about humility,

about proper,

actual, real humility

and what that looks like

and how real humility

accompanies faith.

If you are a Christian,

if you are in fact a Christian,

you must be humbled.

A humble person recognizes

that apart from the saving work

of Jesus Christ,

we are nothing.

Our nature has been utterly spoiled by sin.

There's no good thing left in us.

Now because of Christ,

we are sons and daughters

of the Most High.

There's infinite value in that.

But apart from that,

we're nothing.

Faith and humility

work together

hand in hand.

And if you're humble,

you also recognize

that you really have

no rights.

We are Americans.

I believe everyone in here

is an American citizen.

And as Americans,

we have rights.

Certain things that are given to us

inalienable,

glad I said that right.

I was worried

as it was coming to my mouth.

Inalienable rights

granted to us

by our founding documents.

Praise God for that.

We live in a great country.

The best country,

I would argue.

And there's lots of debate

right now about our rights

being taken from us.

And they shouldn't be

to be political for a moment.

They shouldn't be.

But in reality,

in all actuality,

we have no rights.

What we deserve,

what has been granted to us

apart from Christ,

is eternal death

and destruction.

Separation from God forever.

That's what we have a right to.

We've purchased that

with our sin.

In all of our sinful activity,

we have said to God,

I hate you,

and what the return of that is,

is his wrath.

That's what we have a right to.

In Christ,

we have all sorts of

beautiful, wonderful gifts

and treasures

found in God.

But the temptation

to curse those who persecute us,

to do evil back to them,

to utter evil in their direction,

is the result of us believing

that we deserve better.

So humility

is what permits us

to bless those

who persecute us

and not curse them.

And I know that not all of you

were here last week,

but I hope you've been seeing the tie

between 14

on through 16

and now

into verse 17.

As he expands

more of what he means,

as he says,

repay no one evil for evil,

but give thought to do

what is honorable

in the sight of all.

This is not a concept

that's foreign to the Scriptures.

Paul wrote again

in 1 Thessalonians 5.15,

See that no one repays anyone evil

for evil,

but always seek to do good

to one another

and to everyone.

Peter wrote the same.

1 Peter 3.8.9,

Finally, all of you

have unity of mind,

sympathy,

brotherly love,

a tender heart,

and a humble mind.

So humility.

Do not repay

evil for evil

or reviling for reviling,

but on the contrary,

bless.

For to this you are called

that you may obtain

a blessing.

Now,

he is addressing

particularly,

in this case,

persecutors, right?

Verse 14,

Bless those who persecute you.

But we certainly can apply

the principle out

beyond that.

I would venture to say

that no one here

probably really has

a persecutor in mind

as they're thinking

of these Scriptures.

I hope that as you're

broadening your faith

and you're getting out there

and you're sharing it

and you're being more radical,

that people start to

not like you

because you're always

preaching the Gospel to them.

That should be a reality

in your life.

I hope, maybe,

that you're drawing

some kind of persecution

into your mind

as you live holy

in front of students

on campus,

at your workplace.

People begin to shun you.

They don't want to talk

to you anymore.

You're holier than thou.

I'm hoping this kind of stuff

is drawn to your mind.

But beyond that,

I think all of us

can probably think of

an enemy

all of us probably

have that person

that we just really have

some distaste for

that have in some way

brought an injury

to us.

They've talked bad about us,

tarnished our reputation,

have caused some

ill fate to happen

in one of our classes

or maybe at work.

I have some of these people.

People I haven't gotten

along with too well

throughout my life.

what am I called to do

in Christ

as I deal with

these people?

I am to

give thought

to do

what is

honorable.

I am meant

to bless them.

In this is love.

Remember,

we're talking about

genuine love.

In this is love.

that while we were

enemies of God,

Christ died

for us.

We're meant

to be

Christ-like.

We're meant

to exalt

Christ

in our living.

So the

reasonable act,

this is what Paul

is saying to us,

the reasonable response

to the gospel truth

in our life

is that we

bless,

we genuinely

love

those who

hate

us.

it's the

reasonable thing

to do.

Not particularly

complicated.

Just the thing

we should

be doing

is expressing

love

in this way.

Giving thought

to what is

honorable,

which means

in the Greek

intrinsically good,

proper,

obviously right,

outward.

It's expressed

goodness.

goodness.

It's not just

that you

bottle it up

and you don't

let out

what's really

going on

inside your

head.

It's not

just that you

bite your

tongue,

but it's that

you actually

express

goodness.

That you're

obviously

right-acting

outwardly

towards people

who hate

you.

It's meant

to be done

in such a way

that it's

honorable in

the sight

of all.

That people

marvel at

who we are

as Christians.

this speaks

to those of

you who

will go

around the

world

and will

be persecuted

severely

for your

faith.

But it

certainly

speaks of

us now.

As so

many Christians

try to

stand their

ground,

defend their

rights,

be right

about everything

all the

time.

We ought

to be a

people who

are characterized

by our

genuine

love,

even for

those who

hate us.

if

possible,

so far

as it

depends on

us,

we're

meant to

live

peaceably

with all.

And I,

I mean,

obviously I

love God

and his

spirit and

his moving

and Paul's

writing,

so as I

say this,

know that.

I love

Paul's

writing.

Paul always

very,

very,

very carefully

articulates

what he

means,

and I

appreciate that

about him.

Right?

He gives

us our

caveat at

this point.

If possible,

so far as it

depends on you,

live peaceably

with all.

There's not

a chance that

every situation

is going to

be peaceable.

You're going

to have

people who

are going

to come

at you,

and you're

to do

everything you

can to

sort that

situation,

to live

peaceably.

Peaceable

relationships

take two

sides.

There's just

no way you

can work in

the heart

of someone

else.

But as

far as it

depends on

you,

your part

in it,

you are

to live

peaceably.

It reminds

me of when

Jesus is

giving the

woes to

the Pharisees,

and he

talks to

them about

how they

should clean

their cup

and their

plate first.

We have

no business

cleaning up

the plates

and cups

of other

people.

We're to

clean our

own cup,

our own

plate,

as far as

it depends

on us,

that we

live peaceably

with all.

So are

you in a

situation now

where there's

disunity,

there's a

disruption in

peace in a

relationship you

may have?

You need to

ask yourself

this question,

have I done

everything I

can possibly

do to have

peace with

this person?

I am not

a political

person.

I don't enjoy

the politics

of relationships.

some of

you who

are in

the

dating

realm

right

now

would

say

I

hate

games.

Just

don't

enjoy

that.

I'm a

straight

shooter.

You tell

me how

you feel,

I'll tell

you how

I feel,

what I

say is

what I

mean.

That's

the kind

of person

I am.

And often

when I get

pulled into

some situations

that I

really shouldn't

even be

involved in

to begin

with,

I have

to remind

myself

of this.

You know

a situation

where somebody

has maybe

said something

about you

and somebody

else has

taken it

and they've

run with

it and

they're

thinking

badly

of you

and you

think to

yourself,

this shouldn't

even be a

problem.

I don't know

if you do

that,

but I do.

I'm like,

I'm going to

spend my

time on

this,

are you

kidding me?

Maybe I

can just

ignore it

and it

will go

away.

Somebody

is showing

you some

disdain

for something

they heard.

This

scripture has

meant a lot

in my life

as I've

dealt with

situations

like that

to ask

myself,

have I

done

everything I

can do

to be

at peace

with these

people?

Have I

gone the

extra step?

Have I

expressed

outward

goodness

in the

situation?

Not

stayed

neutral,

but actually

involved

myself

and engaged

the people

that I

might have

peace

with them?

It's going

to require

an effort

on our

part

to do

this.

And we

turn then

in verse

19.

So as

we are

seeking the

peace,

as we

are

expressing

outward

goodness

to those

who are

persecuting

us,

Paul then

comes along

and quotes

from Deuteronomy

32-35

a comfort

to us.

As we're

not going

to be able

to sort

every situation

out.

As we're

not going

to be able

or shouldn't

be defending

every tit

and tat

of our

rights.

He writes

beloved,

those who

are found

in Christ,

never

avenge

yourselves,

but leave

it to the

wrath of

God.

For it

is written,

vengeance

is mine,

I will

repay,

says the

Lord.

So here

is the

final

judgment

Paul is

speaking about

here.

Paul says

in Nathan's

simple terms,

don't worry

about it,

I'll sort

it out

in the

end.

Love,

outwardly

express

genuine

love to

those who

are your

enemies,

those who

persecute

you,

and just

trust that

in the

end,

it'll get

sorted,

they'll get

what's due

them,

and you'll

get what's

due you.

This

ability

to trust

in the

goodness

of God

in all

of these

situations,

to be

able to

overflow

love on

people that

from a

worldly

standard

don't

really

deserve

it,

is

one of

the

marks

of a

true

Christian.

That's

what

Paul is

saying

here to

us.

Actually,

if you're

subtitled the

way I

am,

marks

of the

true

Christian.

It's

where we

start in

verse

9.

Matthew

6,

14 and

15.

this is

the

Sermon

on the

Mount.

Jesus

says,

For if

you forgive

others

their

trespasses,

your

heavenly

Father

will also

forgive

you.

But if

you do

not

forgive

others

their

trespasses,

neither

will your

Father

forgive

your

trespasses.

Is

Jesus

saying

to us

that the

salvation

of your

soul

is

dependent

on

your

works?

No,

He

is not.

But what

He is

saying

to us

is that

if you

have been

forgiven

in

Christ,

the

natural

reaction,

the

obvious

outcome,

the

outflow

of that,

of a

changed

heart,

will be

forgiveness

for others.

Isn't that

exactly what

Paul is

saying to

us now?

Glorious

truth of

the

gospel.

Obvious

thing is a

self-sacrificing

love for

God,

right?

that

works

itself

out

in

genuine

love

and

doesn't

hold

wrong

against

other

people,

that

blesses

those

who

persecute,

that

outwardly

expresses

love

for

them,

that

doesn't

repay

evil

for

evil,

that

doesn't

worry

about

how it

sorts

in the

end.

So the

question for

you becomes,

if you

are doing

the opposite

of this,

if you

feel like

when somebody

wronged you,

you have to

get back

at them,

are you

a Christian?

It's a

test.

It's a

measure

of your

faith.

Now,

we all

fail at

things like

this.

So just

because you

don't do

this in

a moment

doesn't

make you

not a

Christian.

We

certainly

sin,

yet we're

secure

in God's

hand.

But take

a look

at your

life.

It's

the

overarching

theme

in this

particular

regard

that you

get back,

that you

want to

deliver evil

for evil,

that you

want to

stand for

your rights,

that you're

all about

you,

your

kingdom.

Because if

anybody invades

your kingdom

and tries to

dethrone you,

you have to

defend it.

The true

Christian says

God's on

the throne.

Vengeance

is his.

He'll

repay.

I'm not

too worried

about it.

I live

in a

theocracy.

I live

in a

theocracy

where I

have no

rights

except to

serve my

king,

and he

will deal

accordingly.

Listen

to Hebrews

Hebrews 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10,

beginning in

verse 26.

The author

of Hebrews

writes,

For if we

go on

sinning

deliberately

after receiving

the knowledge

of the truth,

there no

longer remains

a sacrifice

for sins,

but a

fearful

expectation

of judgment

and a

fury of

fire that

will consume

the

adversaries.

Anyone who

has set

aside the

law of

Moses dies

without mercy

on the

evidence of

two or

three witnesses.

How much

worse punishment

do you think

will be

deserved by

the one who

has trampled

underfoot

the Son

of God

and has

profaned

the blood

of the

covenant

by which

he was

sanctified

and has

outraged

the Spirit

of grace?

For we

know him

who said,

Vengeance

is mine,

I will

repay,

and again

the Lord

will judge

his people.

This is

Deuteronomy

32,

35.

It is a

fearful thing

to fall

into the

hands

of the

living God.

So that

language

wasn't super

simple,

so hear

what he's

saying to

you.

If we

go on

sinning,

saying

that we're

Christians,

saying that

we walk

in the

light,

and yet

we persist

in our

sin.

He used

the example

of the

Old Testament.

If we

are breaking

the law

of the

commandment,

we have

two or

three witnesses

we're

condemned.

How much

more,

if we go

on sinning,

having the

revelation

of Jesus

Christ,

we're

trampling

underfoot

the Son

of God,

we've

profaned the

blood of

the covenant

by which

we're

sanctified.

We've

outraged

the Spirit

of grace.

He's

saying,

how much

more

will God

repay?

It is a

fearful

thing to

fall into

the hands

of the

living God.

So my

encouragement

in this

is that you

examine

your life.

love.

I would

say that

all of

us need

to do

better

at

exuding

love,

at living

in light

of the

gospel,

at genuinely

being concerned

for and

caring for

our enemies,

rejoicing

with them,

and weeping

with them.

There's a tie

in there.

We have a

true humility

recognizing that

we really have

no rights.

But ask

yourself,

do you have

the capacity

for it?

Has your

heart been

changed at

all?

Out of the

outflow of

your heart,

this is

possible.

Who you

are at

your very

core,

and without

Christ at

your core,

you're utterly

sinful.

You're

incapable of

doing anything

to please

God.

Even your

best effort

is distasteful

to Him.

ask yourself

that question

this morning.

The beautiful

thing is that

either way,

there's a

simple answer.

Whether you

stand firm

knowing you're

a Christian,

knowing though

that you

struggle with

this,

that you

must press

harder to

love your

enemies,

or recognizing

maybe for the

first time,

I'm not

saved.

I've been

doing this

church thing

for a long

time,

I've got

knowledge in

my head,

but I'm

not actually

a Christian.

The answer

to both

problems is

to repent

and believe.

Turn from

your sin

and place

your faith

in Jesus

Christ.

Let me tell

you,

that's going

to look

practical

sometimes.

Repentance

is certainly

a change

in heart.

It's certainly

a recognition

that we've

sinned against

the Most Holy

God,

and it's a

turning away

from that

to the good

things of

God.

But those

good things

of God

are often

practical,

particularly

in this

arena.

Christians,

you may

find as

you repent

that there

are some

things that

you need

to go get

sorted.

You need

to go do

your part

for the

peace in

a situation.

You may

be drawn

to a

situation in

your life,

in your

mind,

that God

is calling

you to

work out.

Please let

your repentance

be complete.

Don't just

turn from

the sin.

I should

really be

nicer to

that

individual.

Go be

nice to

them.

Go exhibit

genuine

love.

Paul says

it well

in verse

20.

I like it

when I do

accidental

segues.

Verse 20.

He says,

to the

contrary,

rather than

repaying evil

for evil,

rather than

hating back

your enemy.

He quotes

from Proverbs

25,

21,

and 22.

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.

He says,

do the

very opposite.

That's what

we've been

talking about.

Genuinely

love.

Don't

replay evil

for evil.

Genuinely

love them.

Feed them.

Give them

something to

drink.

And then

an interesting

phrase.

For by

so doing,

you will

heap burning

coals on

his head.

Now,

I'd like to

admit that I

did not have

the time this

week to

give this

the scholastic

attention I

would have

liked to.

However,

there's much

debate over

exactly what

he means

by this.

It is a

quote.

Proverbs

25.

It's verse

22.

Right?

For you

will heap

burning

coals on

his head

and the

Lord will

reward you.

That's exactly

how that

reads in

the ESV.

Right?

So,

we're called

then in

our genuine

love to

do these

things,

these outward

expressions,

these honorable

things for

those who are

our enemies

for,

because,

so that,

in doing

it,

we're going

to heap

burning

coals

on their

head.

I found

one commentator.

You guys

know I like

to use the

Johns,

John MacArthur,

John Piper,

and Jonathan

Edwards.

So,

the Johns,

one of the

Johns said

that there's

an ancient

Egyptian

tradition

that if

you wanted

to be

publicly

repentant,

that you

filled a

pan with

coals and

you put

it on

your head

and you

walked

around to

show people

the searing

of your

mind,

the burning

of the

guilt of

something that

you had

done.

One of the

other Johns

said that he

has never

found in

any record

anywhere that

that's a

reality.

Respect both

of them a

lot.

So,

I just

really don't

know in

that case

what exactly

they mean.

So,

one of the

Johns says

that the

act of

heaping

burning

coals on

the head

is a

conviction

to.

Right?

So,

we have

enemies that

are treating

us one

way and

we do

the opposite.

We show

them this

genuine love

and it

becomes a

conviction

for them.

It exposes

their evil.

Our

goodness

exposes

their evil

and therefore

becomes a

conviction

to them.

The other

says that it

has to do

with God's

judgment.

That other

places that this

phrasing is used

in Greek

literature,

it has to do

ultimately

with final

judgment.

judgment.

What I

would say

to you

is that

probably

both are

true.

Because it

stands between

these two

verses.

Does it

not?

It stands

between

19

where he

quotes,

Paul quotes

Deuteronomy

32-35,

vengeance is

mine,

I will

repay,

says the

Lord.

And it

moves to

verse 21,

do not be

overcome by

evil,

but overcome

evil with

good.

And maybe

rather than

saying that

it can mean

two things,

we should

really mean

that it

means one

thing,

and that

is that

it brings

these

individuals

to a

realization

of the

wrath of

God,

which is to

them the

conviction

of their

sin.

Maybe.

I bet if I

got the

Johns in a

room,

they would

agree with

me.

We'll see.

That'll never

happen.

Never mind,

we won't

see.

But just

the same,

I think

that's where

he's headed.

So,

quoting from

Proverbs,

we have

these acts

of selflessness,

this giving

to those

who really,

by all

human terms,

we ought

not be

feeding and

giving drink

to.

We really

probably should

be letting

them starve

and die

of thirst,

but we're

instead going

to show

them this

genuine

expression

of love.

And verse

21 says,

do not

be overcome

by evil,

but overcome

evil with

good.

And I think

there's our

connection of

why we ought

to think that

this should

be a conviction

to them,

that it should

be an

exposing element

in their

life.

And verse

21 has

two implications,

that we

shouldn't be

overcome by

the evil

done to us,

we shouldn't

permit it to

overwhelm us,

right,

because God

will judge,

we know that

we have a

good and a

just God,

that we are

his people,

that all

things are

working for

our good

back in

chapter 8

now,

right,

that we

are eternally

secure in

his hands,

that nothing

can take us

from his

hand,

chapter 9,

right,

so we

shouldn't allow

the evil

done to us

to overwhelm

us.

We shouldn't

permit that

to happen,

because God

has made

promises,

and his

promises are

good,

they're yes

and amen

in Jesus

Christ.

first,

but secondly,

and I think

maybe more

importantly,

we also

must not

allow ourselves

to be

overcome by

our own

desire to

respond with

evil,

right,

but instead

we should

overcome the

evil with

our good,

right,

so don't

let your

enemy's

hostility

produce

hostility in

you,

but let

your love

triumph over

his hostility,

whether or

not you

see that

as a

reality now,

it will

in fact

one day

be true,

God will

sort it

in the

end.

Do not

let another

person's

sin make

you sin,

right,

stand as

those

redeemed,

changed by

the gospel

of grace,

right,

changed,

we're different

than the world,

and therefore

we ought to

respond differently.

It is our

reasonable

service,

right,

verse 2,

it's our

reasonable

service.

It's not a

crazy thing

he's asked

us to do,

it's a

reasonable

response

to the

goodness

of the

gospel.

I'm going

to read

to you

just a

short

excerpt

from a

great book,

if you

don't have

this,

you can

get it

for free

from

Voice of

the

Martyrs

called

Tortured

for Christ,

and it's

written by

a man

named

Richard

Wurmbrand

who

founded

Voice of

the

Martyrs,

lived in,

I'm going

to forget

the country,

I believe

Romania,

during

communist