OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD PRESENTED BY STEVEN SCHILLER
INTRODUCTION
The twelfth chapter of Romans has much to say about what is expected of Christians...
In general terms - Ro 12:1-2
They are to present themselves as living sacrifices to God
They are not to be conformed to this world
They are to be transformed by the renewing of their minds
They are to prove what is God's good, acceptable, and perfect will
In more specific terms - Ro 12:3-16
They are to fulfill their function in the body of Christ - Ro 12:3-8
They are to love without hypocrisy, abhorring what is evil - Ro 12:9
They are to love brethren as family, esteeming one another highly - Ro 12:10
They are to serve the Lord diligently, with fervency of spirit - Ro 12:11
They are to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, steadfast in prayer - Ro 12:12
They are to share in the needs of saints, pursue hospitality toward strangers - Ro 12:13
They are to bless those who persecute them - Ro 12:14
They are to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep - Ro 12:15
They are to be of the same mind, with humility and lowliness of mind - Ro 12:16
-- Such behavior is certainly an indication of a transformation!
But perhaps one of the greatest signs of transformation...
Is how one responds to evil
Is how one treats their enemy
-- Human nature responds in kind, with vengeance; is this how Christians are to respond?
In our text (Ro 12:17-21), we find what Barnes describes as...
"...probably one of the most difficult precepts of Christianity, but the law of Christ on the subject is unyielding."
"It is a solemn demand made on all His followers, and it must be obeyed."
[This "difficult precept" pertains to how one reacts when mistreated by those who are evil...]
HOW WE ARE TO RESPOND TO EVIL
REPAY NO ONE EVIL FOR EVIL...
Thus Paul writes in Ro 12:17a and elsewhere - 1Th 5:15
He is not alone in this prohibition
Solomon's counsel in Proverbs - Pr 20:22
Jesus' teaching in the sermon on the mount - Mt 5:39
Peter's writing in his epistle - 1Pe 3:9
-- Thus we are prohibited against responding to evil in kind
REPLY TO EVIL WITH GOOD...
Note first what our concern is to be - Ro 12:17b,18
To have regard for good things in the sight of others
To live peaceably with others if at all possible
Therefore, our response to evil is to reply with good - Ro 12:20
As the Law of Moses instructed - Exo 23:4-5
As David exemplified in his dealings with King Saul - 1 Sam 24:17
As Solomon counseled, and Paul quoted - Pr 25:21,22
As Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount - Mt 5:38-44
-- Note carefully that the response is to be one of aggressive good will and kindness
[People normally respond differently, depending upon their ability (e.g., vengeance, self-defense, passive resistance, running away, helpless victim). Yet Christians are taught to respond with love. Why? Paul explains...]
WHY WE ARE TO RESPOND WITH GOOD
VENGEANCE BELONGS TO GOD...
Vengeance is a Divine prerogative - Ro 12:19
He certainly possesses the ability to administer it justly - cf. Nah 1:1-8
He is slow to anger
He knows the hearts of men
He has the tools to administer vengeance
E.g., governing authorities - cf. Ro 13:1-4; 1Pe 2:13-14
E.g., giving man up to the depravity of his sins - cf. Ro 1:18-32
E.g., the coming of the Lord in flaming fire - cf. 2 Th 1:7-9
Therefore we are to give place to wrath
The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God - Jm 1:19-20
The wrath of man is more often a work of the flesh - Ga 5:19-21; Ep 4:31; Col 3:8
-- It is a mistake to presume that every example of Divine conduct means we can do the same!
VICTORY OVER EVIL IS MORE LIKELY...
Our goal is to overcome evil - Ro 12:21
How can we best hope to overcome evil and change the evil person?
If we react as:
Avenger, defender or passive resister
We only convince the opposition that might makes right
If we react as:
Runner or helpless
We may only confirm the opposition's view that we are cowardly or weak
The most likely way to both overcome evil and change the evil person is by reacting with active good will!
Is this not how God sought to change the world? - Ro 5:8; Jn 3:16; Ro 2:4
Is this not how Jesus sought to change the world? - 1Pe 2:21-25
Certainly Jesus' example demonstrates a better way to handle conflict and evil...
His humility and sacrificial love has motivated many to turn from sin
And we are called to walk in His steps!
Those who do follow Jesus' example often make a powerful impact on others:
Kim Joon-gon has seen 2,000 out of 20,000 people on Chunnam Island murdered by the Communists. They dragged his family to a spot where 160 people from two villages had gathered to beat the Christians. There Kim's father and wife were beaten to death and Kim was left for dead. When he revived and sought safety at an acquaintance's house, he was turned over to the Communists. Only the sudden appearance of an American ship off the island coast saved him this time, for the Communist soldiers hurried away to battle.
He hid out in the countryside until the South Korean army captured the island. The Communists who had killed his wife and father were arrested. Because it was wartime, the police chief had authority to execute without trial. But as the chief prepared to kill the men, Kim pleaded, 'Spare them. They were forced to kill.'
The police chief showed great surprise. 'It was your family they killed! Why do you now ask for their lives?' Kim replied quietly, 'Because the Lord, whose I am and whom I serve, would have me show mercy to them.'
The Communists were spared execution because of Kim's plea. News of his action spread among other Communist supporters in the area. When Kim later ascended a mountain to preach to Communists hiding out, he was not killed. Many of the Communists became Christians, and when Kim finally left the sland there was a flourishing church of 108 members. - Dictionary Of Illustrations, p. 188
CONCLUSION
We may never be called upon to manifest the power of responding to evil with good in such a remarkable way, but...
We can begin by how we respond to personal abuses we often receive from others
We can react to evil treatment even on a small scale with active good will
Reacting to evil with good will does not always convert the evildoer...
Jesus was crucified on the cross, enduring hostility by sinners - He 12:2-3
In such cases we must commit our cause to God, as did Jesus - 1 Pe 2:21-23; 4:19
But there other reasons for responding to evil with good...
To be different than sinners - Lk 6:32-34
To be like our Heavenly Father - Lk 6:35-36
To receive a blessing (more likely to love life and see good days) - 1Pe 3:9-12
Do you desire to "love life and see good days"? Then be transformed by the renewing of your mind and demonstrate that God's will for responding to evil is indeed good, acceptable, and perfect...!
GOD IS MAN`S SAVIOUR, HE HAS GIVEN MAN CONDITIONS TO OBEY. IF WE CAN HELP YOU OBEY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST PLEASE DON`T DELAY CONTACT US.
HEAR
BELIEVE
REPENT
CONFESS
BE BAPTIZED IMMERSED,BURIED IN WATER
LIVE FAITHFULLY
- Home
- (ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN) STAYING SAVED DB
- Abortion (forced termination)
- All authority
- All have sinned
- Are you a Christian
- A place for God`s name(this is it)
- Abounding hope
- Are you the enemy of God
- Amazing grace
- Awesome Father,Son,Holy spirit
- Audio Bible (KJV)
- Authority
- Abomination
- Accuser of GOD`S people
- Accuser
- AUDIO RIVERSIDE CHURCHOFCHRIST
- Adversary
- Apologetics press
- Born again
- Baptizm search for truth
- Acts conversion chart
- Baptizm immersion not sprinkle, pouring
- Baptizm NT
- Baptizm
- Bible read & listen
- Brand new creation
- Belief more than knowing there is a GOD
- Bethel
- Baptizm (antitype)
- Brain washed (believing lies)
- BAPTIZM POINT OF SALVATION
- Bible inspiration
- Being mistreated for doing good.
- Bible charts Donnie Barnes
- Bible verse of the day
- Be not many masters.
- Beyond the logos
- Baptizm forgiveness of sin, washed in the blood of JESUS
- Bible book outlines
- Bless your enemies curse not
- Bible`s scientific foreknowledge
- Children giving glory to GOD
- Can GOD`S house be established today?
- CONTACT US
- Condemn your brother with your tongue
- Church built by GOD
- Church built on Christ
- Christianity 101
- Childrens video
- Childrens : Digger Doug
- Christ
- CONTACT
- Church of Jesus Christ
- Church of CHRIST Romans 16:16
- Committed to GOD
- Cast the first stone
- Creation
- Dictionary
- Deception of false teachers
- Christs
- Did Jesus build more than 1 church?
- Divorce and remarriage
- Day of the Lord
- Denominationlism
- Drinking alcohol
- Diotrephes
- Falling away
- Does doctrine matter
- Filthy rags
- Forgiveness
- False preaching can keep u from heaven
- Faith the substance of all things
- Fake preachers
- False Teaching
- False teacher, False preacher DS
- Faith
- False Preachers
- Fabricated truth
- First gospel sermon
- Forget God?
- Give account for yourself
- GOD is righteous
- GOD`S PLAN IS NOT MAN`S DESIGN
- God`s will for you
- GOD
- Gossip David Schmidt
- GOD built true church not man
- GOD`S calling, the good new`s
- False brethren
- Gospel broadcasting network
- How do you obey the gospel?
- How beautiful are the feet that preach
- Gospel Enacted
- Homosexuality
- Heaven/Hell
- How to get to heaven?
- Heart
- Hypocrites
- Hymns
- Have you obeyed the gospel?
- Hope
- How is the church organized?
- Inspiration what is it?
- Interview with satan(father of lies)
- In Christ
- Influence of evil
- In Jesus Christ
- In Christ the fullness of the Godhead
- Is there more than 1 church? no
- JESUS
- Jesus the way
- In Christ (what is it being in Christ)
- Jesus is Lord
- Inspired word of GOD
- Jesus Jesus Jesus
- Jesus is our faith to our beloved
- JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
- Jesus has come in the flesh
- Kenya gallery1
- Kingdom come ?
- Lying wonder
- Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
- Lord`s church
- LOCATION OF ONE TRUE CHURCH
- Light at Riverside Church of CHRIST
- Lost
- LINKS
- Lying preachers
- LORDS church part 1
- Looking for things to get better
- Leaders of this world should be ashamed
- Lying Christians is their any without
- Lord`s supper
- Law of Liberty inCHRIST
- Light of the world
- Leading to Christ
- Lesson`s books of the bible gbn
- Love God, the creator of Love.
- Ladies videos
- Meddling & Gossip is sin
- Man`s device (not GOD`S)
- MURMURINGS, MURMURERS, MURMUR
- Lying 1
- None righteous no not one
- Making the change
- Man`s tradition or God`s word
- Moral issues
- New Creation
- Overcome evil with good
- No change
- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Obey the gospel
- Only 1 church (church of CHRIST)
- Pleasing God
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Power of the tongue
- Persecution and Oppression
- Prayer
- Persecution
- Preaching Jesus
- Root of all evil
- practicing SIN
- REPENT!
- Riverside gallery
- Perverting the gospel
- Pray without ceasing
- Religious error
- Reject God
- Repent
- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
- References on request
- Sober
- Scriptually organized w/o deacons?
- Stairway to heaven
- Searching for truth
- Sinners prayer 4min video
- Serving GOD or Self serving
- Salvation
- Sheet music
- Submit and we will pray for you
- Scripual and unscriptually organized churches
- Safe in the arms of GOD
- Service to GOD
- Such were some of you
- Searching for truth(book)
- Sincere,True Ministry
- STOP
- Spirit to the churches
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- SHEPHERD
- SERMONS
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
- Slave of the creator
- Same sex marriage
- Thanks to GOD
- Truth about
- The holy spirit
- The dog has returned to his vomit
- The Church
- Truth
- Truth for the world
- The way we were
- The devil
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Those who persecute you
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- Time for truth
- Unless the Lord build the house
- Vengeance
- What is the Gospel?
- WOE WOE WOE
- The Lord`s Supper
- When you die
- What must i do to be saves (transcript)
- James Watkins
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Why so many churches (Transcript)
- Withdrawal fellowship
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What names on your sign
- What GOD has cleansed
- Wonderful Grace
- What must i do to be saved?
- Worship
- Walking with GOD
- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Your unbelief
- Home
- (ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN) STAYING SAVED DB
- Abortion (forced termination)
- All authority
- All have sinned
- Are you a Christian
- A place for God`s name(this is it)
- Abounding hope
- Are you the enemy of God
- Amazing grace
- Awesome Father,Son,Holy spirit
- Audio Bible (KJV)
- Authority
- Abomination
- Accuser of GOD`S people
- Accuser
- AUDIO RIVERSIDE CHURCHOFCHRIST
- Adversary
- Apologetics press
- Born again
- Baptizm search for truth
- Acts conversion chart
- Baptizm immersion not sprinkle, pouring
- Baptizm NT
- Baptizm
- Bible read & listen
- Brand new creation
- Belief more than knowing there is a GOD
- Bethel
- Baptizm (antitype)
- Brain washed (believing lies)
- BAPTIZM POINT OF SALVATION
- Bible inspiration
- Being mistreated for doing good.
- Bible charts Donnie Barnes
- Bible verse of the day
- Be not many masters.
- Beyond the logos
- Baptizm forgiveness of sin, washed in the blood of JESUS
- Bible book outlines
- Bless your enemies curse not
- Bible`s scientific foreknowledge
- Children giving glory to GOD
- Can GOD`S house be established today?
- CONTACT US
- Condemn your brother with your tongue
- Church built by GOD
- Church built on Christ
- Christianity 101
- Childrens video
- Childrens : Digger Doug
- Christ
- CONTACT
- Church of Jesus Christ
- Church of CHRIST Romans 16:16
- Committed to GOD
- Cast the first stone
- Creation
- Dictionary
- Deception of false teachers
- Christs
- Did Jesus build more than 1 church?
- Divorce and remarriage
- Day of the Lord
- Denominationlism
- Drinking alcohol
- Diotrephes
- Falling away
- Does doctrine matter
- Filthy rags
- Forgiveness
- False preaching can keep u from heaven
- Faith the substance of all things
- Fake preachers
- False Teaching
- False teacher, False preacher DS
- Faith
- False Preachers
- Fabricated truth
- First gospel sermon
- Forget God?
- Give account for yourself
- GOD is righteous
- GOD`S PLAN IS NOT MAN`S DESIGN
- God`s will for you
- GOD
- Gossip David Schmidt
- GOD built true church not man
- GOD`S calling, the good new`s
- False brethren
- Gospel broadcasting network
- How do you obey the gospel?
- How beautiful are the feet that preach
- Gospel Enacted
- Homosexuality
- Heaven/Hell
- How to get to heaven?
- Heart
- Hypocrites
- Hymns
- Have you obeyed the gospel?
- Hope
- How is the church organized?
- Inspiration what is it?
- Interview with satan(father of lies)
- In Christ
- Influence of evil
- In Jesus Christ
- In Christ the fullness of the Godhead
- Is there more than 1 church? no
- JESUS
- Jesus the way
- In Christ (what is it being in Christ)
- Jesus is Lord
- Inspired word of GOD
- Jesus Jesus Jesus
- Jesus is our faith to our beloved
- JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
- Jesus has come in the flesh
- Kenya gallery1
- Kingdom come ?
- Lying wonder
- Jesus is Lord (Kurios)
- Lord`s church
- LOCATION OF ONE TRUE CHURCH
- Light at Riverside Church of CHRIST
- Lost
- LINKS
- Lying preachers
- LORDS church part 1
- Looking for things to get better
- Leaders of this world should be ashamed
- Lying Christians is their any without
- Lord`s supper
- Law of Liberty inCHRIST
- Light of the world
- Leading to Christ
- Lesson`s books of the bible gbn
- Love God, the creator of Love.
- Ladies videos
- Meddling & Gossip is sin
- Man`s device (not GOD`S)
- MURMURINGS, MURMURERS, MURMUR
- Lying 1
- None righteous no not one
- Making the change
- Man`s tradition or God`s word
- Moral issues
- New Creation
- Overcome evil with good
- No change
- Our GOD is a awesome GOD
- Preachers leading w/ no authority from GOD
- Obey the gospel
- Only 1 church (church of CHRIST)
- Pleasing God
- Pride of men hinder the advancement of the gospel
- Power of the tongue
- Persecution and Oppression
- Prayer
- Persecution
- Preaching Jesus
- Root of all evil
- practicing SIN
- REPENT!
- Riverside gallery
- Perverting the gospel
- Pray without ceasing
- Religious error
- Reject God
- Repent
- RESPONDING TO THE CALL OF GOD
- References on request
- Sober
- Scriptually organized w/o deacons?
- Stairway to heaven
- Searching for truth
- Sinners prayer 4min video
- Serving GOD or Self serving
- Salvation
- Sheet music
- Submit and we will pray for you
- Scripual and unscriptually organized churches
- Safe in the arms of GOD
- Service to GOD
- Such were some of you
- Searching for truth(book)
- Sincere,True Ministry
- STOP
- Spirit to the churches
- Speak evil of a Christian is sin against Christ
- SHEPHERD
- SERMONS
- SUNDAY APRIL 17 2022
- Slave of the creator
- Same sex marriage
- Thanks to GOD
- Truth about
- The holy spirit
- The dog has returned to his vomit
- The Church
- Truth
- Truth for the world
- The way we were
- The devil
- 2 Reasons to believe ap
- Those who persecute you
- U HAVE AN ENEMY!
- Unscriptual organization of the church
- Time for truth
- Unless the Lord build the house
- Vengeance
- What is the Gospel?
- WOE WOE WOE
- The Lord`s Supper
- When you die
- What must i do to be saves (transcript)
- James Watkins
- U WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IDLE WORDS
- Why so many churches (Transcript)
- Withdrawal fellowship
- World Video Bible School (WVBS)
- What names on your sign
- What GOD has cleansed
- Wonderful Grace
- What must i do to be saved?
- Worship
- Walking with GOD
- Where in the bible is your church mentioned
- Your unbelief
/