Responding to the Unbelieving World

Transcript

GRM 902
05/09/2004
Responding in the Unbelieving World
Romans 12:14-21
Gil Rugh


I want to direct your attention back to the book of Romans chapter 12, Romans chapter 12. We looked at the middle section of this chapter and I just want to finish out the chapter with you. Paul is exhorting believers on living the new life they have in Christ. Beautiful thing about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation that it works in a life, it does not just provide forgiveness of sins and a future hope of glory, but it transforms us here and now. It makes us new in Christ and provides for us living a totally different life, a totally different lifestyle. We can stand out in the world because we are not of the world, but now we belong to the living God and partake of His very character. His Spirit dwells within the body of each and every believer in Jesus Christ. If you stop and reflect a moment, that must make a dramatic and remarkable change in the life—that the Spirit of God Himself now resides within these physical bodies. What, know ye not that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit? So there are two kinds of people now living on this earth--those who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them and those who do not; those who are living their lives by their own strength, according to their own desires, as well as the desires and dictates of their god, the devil, and those who are now living under the control and power of the Holy Spirit, who is manifesting His presence by producing the character of God in a life. Could you expect anything but remarkable differences and changes in such lives?

That is what Romans 12 is talking about. After unfolding the wonder of our salvation, the sovereign purposes and plans of God and the implementing of that salvation in chapter 12 verses 1-2 Paul said, “now I beseech you therefore, brethren, to present your bodies a living sacrifice.” Now he beseeches and exhorts on the basis of the mercies of God, which have been unfolded in the wonder of our salvation. Through chapter 12 and really through most of the rest of this letter he’s talking about how we live as those who have been redeemed by the powerful grace of God. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, behold new things have come,” II Corinthians 5:17. That’s what we’re talking about. New creatures in Christ living by the transformation of their renewed minds.

We looked down through verse 13 and really verses 3-13 his focus has been on the relationship we have with one another as believers, and the relationship we have within the body of Christ. In fact, in verses 3-8 his focus was on the exercising of the gifts that we have as a display of the Spirit’s presence, that enabling power of the Spirit so that we might function in a unified, harmonious way as the body of Christ. Then in verses 9-13 he emphasized the relationship we have, demonstrating that love, meeting one another’s needs and so on.

With verse 14 and really through the rest of this chapter, verses 14-21, focus is going to be more on our relationships with the unbelieving world. And even more specifically how we respond to the opposition and persecution of the unbelieving world. This becomes a remarkable display of the power of the transforming gospel that we have believed, because we no longer respond as might be expected, even to the opposition the mistreatment that is directed toward us by the world. And this becomes perhaps the greatest trial, that I am going to manifest God’s character to those who treat me unfairly, who bring hardship and grief and human misery to my life by bringing painful and unpleasant things into my life and perhaps even into my family.

Look at verse 14. Now this is a contrast. Verse 13 talked about contributing to the needs of the saints and practicing hospitality. Now we’re going to turn our attention from the saints and that family love and family relationship, what ought to be a joyous relationship as we are involved in one another’s lives, to perhaps more unpleasant things. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Bless those who persecute you. Here we’re seeking God’s blessing in expressing the desire for God’s blessing on those who oppose us, not just oppose us but are in a position to persecute us. Bless and do not curse. We’re going to see clearly; we are going to respond just the opposite of how it would be expected. You know the world treats one another well when they’re getting benefit. So, you’re treated well. Isn’t that how they build relationships and network and move ahead? You know somebody treats you good, you treat them back, you move forward by these kinds of things. But you get into a situation where somebody is out to get you, somebody does things that really bring difficulty into your life. Perhaps they end up bringing pain into your life. You lose your job over them. These kinds of things. And what’s the response? You’d love to get back. But rather our response as believers, we bless those who persecute you. They’re making our life miserable, they’re doing all they can to undermine us, to make life difficult. Perhaps they’re in a position to bring pain, bring unpleasantness. Obviously, that was the case in the Roman world often. Paul experienced that—he’s arrested, he’s imprisoned, he spent years in imprisonment, undergoes beatings and mistreatment as he unfolds in II Corinthians 11. People in a place to make life miserable for him. We must be careful that we as believers have our mind properly set. Our focus is on our God, the manifesting of His character, not on the pain and the people bringing unpleasantness to our life. We just desire that God will work graciously in their life.

Look back to Matthew chapter 5. I assume that Paul is building on what has already been made know through the ministry and teaching of Christ. In Matthew chapter 5, we must break into this. Pick up with verse 44, contrary to the thinking love your neighbor and hate your enemy, verse 44, “But I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” You see when you’re talking about bless those who persecute you, pray for them. Ask God’s blessing upon them. Now it’s not a matter, oh Lord bring your blessing on them because they are making my life miserable. But Lord I would ask that you would work graciously in their life, and perhaps even the misery they’re bringing into my life might be an occasion to see your character in me and might come to know your graciousness. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.

Look at verse 46, if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax gatherers do the same? Pick up a low class of sinners as the Jews viewed them. He tells those who would be His disciples, if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? I mean that’s the way any sinner functions. Tax gatherers function that way. Verse 47, “if you greet only your brothers what more are you than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” Scratch my back, I scratch yours; help me, I help you. But bring pain to my life and I’ll do the same to you. If you think you can make me miserable, just see how much misery I can bring to your life. No, you see how there is a totally different way of living than the world lives, and that’s Jesus’ point. Those who are not my followers are good to those who are good to them. Verse 48, “therefore you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Turn to I Corinthians chapter 4, back just after Romans, I Corinthians chapter 4. The Apostle Paul is talking about the miserable life of an apostle. We say the life of an apostle is honorable, exalted, what a blessing to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. True. But you understand that meant, humanly speaking, a life of misery and pain and suffering. Paul contrasts himself with the Corinthians who wanted to live as though they had arrived at the kingdom already. In verse 8 he says, “you were already filled, you have already become rich, you’ve become kings without us.” Verse 9, “I think God has exhibited us apostles last of all as men condemned to death.” We’ve become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake. Then he talks about the contrasts drawn, how the Corinthians want to see themselves. You know we want to be followers of the Lord and we want to be honored by the world. We want to be followers of the Christ who is despised and rejected, but we want to be followers of Christ who are honored and respected. You understand we’re trying to be what Paul says you can’t be and be faithful. That’s what he’s trying to drive home to the Corinthians here.

What we want to note is in verse 12. “We toil working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless, when we are reviled, we bless.” When we are persecuted, we endure. You see the contrary response. They revile us, we bless them. You might think the apostles stepped back and thunder coming judgment on those who would oppose them because we are God’s spokesmen. They were not only teaching the Word that had been previously revealed, but they were receiving revelation from God. What did they do when they were reviled? They blessed those who persecuted them and asked that God would bring His blessing and His salvation upon them.

Paul reiterates in Romans chapter 12 verse 14, “bless and do not curse.” I have to repeat this. When I say bless those who persecute you, I mean you bless them, you don’t curse them. We’re not talking about a reverse kind of blessing. Oh, I’ll bless them all right, I’ll bless them with God’s judgment. No, I mean really bless them, don’t curse them. The Spirit of God knows how we think and so He want to be sure we don’t miss the point. When I say bless, I mean bless, not curse. What did Jesus do when He hung on the cross? “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they do.” You know what my attitude would be? Father curse them for there’s no excuse for their ignorance. And there isn’t. They should have known. But here you see the character of our Savior in asking for God’s goodness and grace to be bestowed upon them who humanly speaking are without excuse. yet they didn’t know what they did. That Negro spiritual, We Didn’t Know Who You Were. They didn’t. They should have but they didn’t, and He asked them to be forgiven, because they didn’t know who He was even though they should have. They were without excuse and yet they were in ignorance. Father forgive them, they do not know what they do.

Turn over to I Peter chapter 2. Peter uses Christ as the great example for us to follow. We need to take note of this because our excuse is I’m only human, I can only take so much. God is not asking you to function as only you can do as a normal human being. He is requiring us to function according to what only He can do in a life, and that’s a remarkable difference. I Peter chapter 2 verse 21. Now the end of verse 20 leads into this, “if when you do what is right you suffer for it you patiently endure, this finds favor with God.” Now note that. You’re doing what is right and you’re suffering for it. “For you have been called for this purpose since Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin nor was any deceit found in His mouth. While being reviled He did not revile in return, while suffering He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to the one who judges righteously.” I’m not asking you to do any more than your Savior did. Is it not enough for a slave to be like his master, for a student to be like his teacher? He’s not asking me to do anything than act like my Savior. Why do I think I ought to be better than my Savior? I ought to faithfully serve the living God and represent Him and the world ought to love me and treat me with respect. Even if they differ, they ought to respect that I’m an honorable person who is trying to do right in serving the God that I believe in. I mean I think if you serve the Lord faithfully people will respect you for it. If you’re really serving the Lord faithfully, they’ll honor you. In our hearts we really want to believe that it’s just not true. There is no human being who ever walked this earth who so faithfully served the living God as Jesus Christ. He was without sin, and they did not love Him for it, they did not respect Him for it, they did not treat Him kindly for it. That’s the whole point of the example here. He left you an example to follow in His steps, at the end of verse 21.

What did Jesus say as recorded by John? They hated me, they’ll hate you. It’s not difficult. So, what we’re being called upon is to continue to live out the life of Christ in the world. We are to be living examples before the world of the ongoing presence of Christ in the world. Is not the Spirit of God working in us? Is not the Spirit of God manifesting the character of God in us? The world ought to see in us the character of Christ. So how did He handle this? Oh but I’m not Christ, my situation is…….. Are you implying that if Christ had been in your situation He would have functioned differently? He would not have asked God’s blessing. In other words, your situation is much worse than Christ’s situation as He suffered so terribly, culminating in the cross. This gets to border on blasphemy, that I think my suffering is much worse than Christ’s suffering was. I cannot be expected to bear up under this, to show kindness and love and graciousness in this situation, you don’t know what I’m going through. Well, that’s not the standard. I don’t think you would function any differently than I am, you would want revenge too, you would be bitter too. Perhaps, but I’m not the standard, I’m not your Savior. Jesus Christ is. We’re called to follow in His steps. Now remember whatever God requires of us as His children, by the grace of His presence, the sufficiency of His power, He enables us to do. What we’re called upon to do here is a possibility, not in our strength. But we’re never called to live the Christian in and of ourselves.

Come back to chapter 12 of Romans verse 15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” This may follow along when there’s persecution, there’s suffering. So, we have joy together, we have sorrow together as God’s people. We do rejoice with those who rejoice. That can be true of the unbeliever as well. We can be more understanding than anyone. We’re glad for their joys, we’re sorry for their sorrows, especially among believers there is this identity that we have, that we’re glad for the blessings that God brings into lives, and we grieve with believers that suffer.

You know a number of writers have noted, and some of them very old writers, that the first part of this is harder than the last. Rejoicing with those who rejoice is sometimes harder than weeping with those who weep because there is something within us as a result of our fallen nature that tends toward jealousy, envy. Titus 3:3, Galatians 5:20-21 talk about those characteristics of our fallen nature. Paul reminds us as members of the body of Christ, in particular, I Corinthians 12:26, “if one part of the body suffers the whole body suffers. If one part of the body is blessed the whole body is blessed.” We need to be careful that this rejoice with those who rejoice doesn’t underneath the surface become resentment that they’re getting blessings and my life seems to be so difficult. I’m glad for them, I’m glad for all their blessings. Even though I may not understand why they’ve gotten a promotion or are making far more money than they need to live on, and my job has just been discontinued and it’s always been tight. Lord in my heart I rejoice at your goodness, and I rejoice with them genuinely. I’m glad for their blessings. Now I must be careful that I’m functioning in the Spirit in doing this, otherwise the ugliness of envy and so on asserts itself.

Be of the same mind toward one another, be of the same mind. You know it amazed me, I went back as I was working through this again and looked at the various verses, and this is a repeated emphasis. Look over in chapter 15 of Romans, Paul is going to say it again. Verse 15 “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another.” Isn’t interesting, the context is perseverance and encouragement that comes from God. Difficulties, trials, should not fracture us as the people of God, bring division among us. God gives perseverance and encouragement and often, as we note, pressure reveals character and pressure reveals the weakness in our own character. But the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus. So that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That’s the continual focus, not me not what’s happening to me not how this affects me, but that I’d be joined with you in one mind to exalt the Living God and honor His Son, Jesus Christ and His grace gives that sufficiently.

II Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 2:2, other passages. Be of the same mind. Doesn’t mean there is a bland sameness about us. We’re talking about that basic oneness and unity that we have in Christ. The opening verses of Ephesians 4 talk about there’s one spirit, so on, talking about that list of oneness that characterizes us. The world ought to look at us, what would divide us? What would tear our family apart? What would cause us to turn against one another? The world ought to look at us and see something totally different. Not look and say you know I don’t think there is anything that would divide those people. They have a lot of differences, I know some of those people and they’re a different kind of people and they have different ways of doing things, they’re not all the same, they have different likes and dislikes. But you know what, what is so unusual about them? It’s not these superficial likes and dislikes that bind them together. Because despite differences there is a oneness about them. That’s the beauty of a family, isn’t it? It’s the beauty of our body. These analogies, the family, the body, so that oneness. To be of the same mind. We have on Lord, Jesus Christ. We have one Spirit who indwells each of us. Is the Spirit divided against Himself? Is our Lord opposed to Himself? Is there disunity within the Godhead? I mean such thoughts; we’d say they’re impossibilities. That’s why James says where do divisions come from then among you? They don’t come from God, they come from within your own selves. You want what you want for yourself, you want to honor yourself. And so, within yourself you have a war waging and then that gets carried out and brings division.

Come back to Romans 12. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be haughty in mind, don’t be conceited, don’t think too highly of yourself. Look up in verse 3 of chapter 12, “for through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think.” Paul is writing to believers; he’s writing to believers in the church at Rome. A church that he has commended, as he started the letter. A church he has written so much great theology to, and he has to tell them. He wants to tell each one of them don’t think too highly of yourself. Its hard to be of the same mind when someone is thinking they are better, they know more, they are more spiritual. You know what that does? It creates a crack, a rift. I think I’m more spiritual than you I know more than you I’m more necessary to the body than you. I’m elevating myself in my thinking. Don’t be haughty in mind, and its easy for all of us God graciously uses us. Isn’t it interesting that when Paul says in verse 3, he immediately leads into the diversity we have in the body.


Maybe you do know more, maybe God has gifted you with a great mind and great insight. But knowledge puffs up, love builds up, Paul had to remind the Corinthians. Maybe He has enabled you to be effective and to be used in ways others aren’t, but if that has caused you to think highly of yourself rather than highly of your God, then pride is ruining you.

Do not be haughty in mind but associate with the lowly. That word lowly means something or someone servile, menial, petty, base. It’s used of persons; it’s used of things. The context here he’s probably talking about people, but the scripture also reminds us we’re willing to be servants, right? To do the lowly tasks. Jesus said if I wash your feet, you ought to wash other’s feet. It would apply here to both people and things. Am I too good to do that job? Oh, I’ve graduated from that when I started, I did the lowly things, but now I’m here I don’t have to do that. I begin to think I’m too good to do it. So, I think that those who are doing those things just aren’t as far along as me, rather than appreciate the great contribution of those things that seems to be the smallest things. The more I focus on the things that seem to be doing lowly menial things for the body they are contributing in greater ways that are first evident and they are enabling the body to be what God intended it to be. Obviously refers this to people you know it was a problem in New Testament times just as it is today.

Part of one of the church growth principles is people like people of their own kind, homogeneous units. You know the principle is true as you examine the world. The thing about the church, it is to be different than the world. That’s why James had to caution those that he wrote to. You know somebody rich comes into the congregation, you want to be sure he’s well taken care of. Somebody poor comes in; anything is good enough for them. One of them would make more difference than 50 of these others, so we want to be sure that they get contacted, that they’re made to feel at home, that somebody talk to them. Somebody who is a nobody comes, you know we have all kind of people come in and out, and it would be nice if somebody spoke to them. But if they didn’t oh well. But if somebody of note were here—did you notice, was anybody talking to them? Did the people seem to be friendly to them? I mean we’re concerned about that. We like to think we’re not like those that James had to write to, but in our hearts we’re like that. That’s the way the world functions, that’s the way you get ahead. You must have the right contacts and know the right people and make the right friendships. That’s why if you go to the right school, it’s good because in the right school you made the right contacts, you made the right friendships. That’ll get you ahead. Belong to the right clubs. Why? Because that’s where you meet the right people; and there is an element of truth in that in the world, obviously. Associate with the lowly. One commentator wrote this on this passage, there is to be no aristocracy in the church, no cliques of the wealthy as over against the poor, nor pedestals of unapproachable dignity for those on the higher social and economic strata, or for those who are in office in the church. How contradictory to all such pretension is the character of the church’s head who said I am meek and lowly in heart. We just need to be careful in our attitude, in our thinking and in our functioning, that we appreciate one another in the proper sense because of God’s work in our heart.

Do not be wise in your own estimation. Did he have to belabor this point a little more than the others? I mean pride is a besetting sin and the world loves it. We have to have self-esteem classes so that sinners who already are totally consumed with themselves can learn how to be more consumed with themselves, that those who never did hate themselves can learn to love themselves even more. There is nothing worse than low self-esteem and until you learn to love yourself you cannot learn to love others. You don’t have to learn to love yourself, it’s already there. Even our low self-esteem is a form of self-love, is it not? Self-exaltation. Why do I have low self-esteem? Because I don’t think anybody around me appreciates me as much as they should appreciate me. Which is what? Pride. I mean what’s the Bible say? Let each of you esteem others better than themselves. Now that’s low self-esteem. I look around and everybody’s better than me, and you say you’re right. Oh, well I meant that you ought to tell me no, not everybody is better than me. What does the Bible say? Consider others better than yourself. Isn’t that what the kids are supposed to be taught in school? One thing we want you to learn in this class--look around, everybody you see is better than you. I’m starting at the bottom of the class. Does that mean everybody is superior to me in every way? No. What it means I ought to be looking and seeing in everyone I meet; I see someone superior to me in some way. Everybody in the body is gifted by the Spirit of God and I look and see what God in His grace is doing in their life and through them and it magnifies their importance. I realize how deficient the body would be without them, how I am benefited by them and their work and their ministry and their service.

Don’t be wise in your own estimation. It is a sad thing. We are a church that focuses on knowing the Word, and we see some people grow to the point that they just don’t have anything else to learn. They know more than I do as the pastor, they know more than the elders, they know more than the teachers. Some of them patiently endure with us. They are so far beyond us, but they are gracious to put up with our ignorance and slowness of learning. Didn’t take them long to learn it all, and they’re just now marking time. They move along on their own pace because really, they’ve outgrown us and so far, outstripped us that they have to do their learning on their own. They grace us with their presence. Is that not being wise in your own estimation? When I think I’ve outgrown everyone, and I think that my knowledge is so much more vast and complete than everyone—is that not being wise in my own estimation? How much clearer could God be? Don’t be wise in your own estimation, don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to think as verse 3 said. But we think we know the Word so well and yet we just read over this, and it makes no impact on our heart. If we can surround ourselves with 2 or 3 people that think like we do, we’re convinced all the rest don’t appreciate true knowledge, true understanding, true godly character. Don’t be wise in your own estimation.

Now we’re back to never pay back evil for anyone. You put these things in perspective, you’ll note verse 14, bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Verse 17, never pay back evil to anyone. You’d think you ought to put verse 17 right after verse 14. But the Spirit of God directed verses 15-16 to be put in there. A part of that has to do with the way I function. You know if I have a proper humble attitude, what does it do? How did Titus under the direction of the Spirit approach this? I was going to recite it to you, but turn there, better you see it. It’s still the Word of God when I quote it, but it’s the Word of God doubly impressed on your mind when you not only hear it audibly, but you see it printed on the page. In Titus chapter 3 you remind them to function this way. Basically, talking about the similar kind of things. He started out by saying be subject to rulers. That’s where Paul is going in Romans chapter 13, and that will be the subject of Romans 13, subject to governing authorities. To be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. Isn’t this the same kind of flavor we’ve been talking about? Why? For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, and spending our lives in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God, and so on.

So, this attitude of humility and not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think not only impacts our relationship together in the body, but it helps me walk humbly, even before the world. I may be being persecuted, I may be mistreated, there may be pain being brought into my life. But you know, stop and consider, I understand. They don’t know what they’re doing. I was once like that, too. They’re trying to bring misery into my life, they’re trying to make my life as unpleasant as they can and, in many ways, they’re being successful. Let’s be honest, if they work so you get fired, that brings pain into your life. If they get arrested and you’re taken away and your family is suffering, your children are separated from you, that brings pain into your life; and that does happen in homes and families. Years ago, we were in China and listened to the testimonies. People arrested, hauled off to prison in the middle of the night, didn’t see their children for 20 years, raised by the State. You say you’re going to treat these people kindly, think kindly of them, pray for them? So, we talk about having a right and I think Lord, I’m not better than they are. Why do I get so upset with sinners? Why do I get so upset with people who don’t treat me kindly when I’ve been kind to them? Who do mean, hateful things. You know what I do? I forget what I was like, I forget that it’s the kindness, the mercy, the grace of God that has brought about the change in my life. It’s not that I was a better person, it’s not that I would have never thought of being like that. It’s that I have experienced God’s mercy. I can understand them being like that.

So, it enables me to function toward them properly. When I’m thinking more highly of myself, wise in my own estimation as though I was a sinner. Of course, we’re all sinners, but I would have never been like that, I would have never done that. Another way of saying what? We’re all sinners, but I thank you Lord that I’m not a sinner like other men. You know who prayed that—the publican. We are to mimic Lord be merciful to me, the sinner. I don’t see myself as less a sinner than these who are mistreating me. I see myself as more a sinner. That’s why Paul could be so gracious. I’m the chief of sinners. So don’t be wise in your own estimation. That puts in perspective here even how we function to the world that mistreats us.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone, never pay back evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. You know in verse 17 to anyone, remember in the Greek language they can structure it differently than we do in English. They can rearrange their words according to what they want to put emphasis on; and in the Greek sentence here, verse 17, you’ll note the first words are to anyone. What’s the emphasis on? I mean anyone. I want to remove any exceptions here. So, to anyone never pay back evil for evil. By putting it first, they put the emphasis on it, they emphasize there are no exceptions here. I’m talking about anyone. Think of the person who has brought the most grief to your life, the most pain, the most misery, who has hurt you the worst and that’s one of the “anyones”. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. The natural tendency is to get even. You may have the opportunity, maybe down the road now God’s put them in your hands. They got you fired, they brought misery to your life, they did this and that. Now suddenly, they show up and now you’re in the position to hire and fire, now you’re in the position to bring misery. You think well God is just and He just wants them to get a lesson. No, He wants you to have the opportunity to show grace, show mercy.

Never pay back evil to evil to anyone. So that would imply there may be the opportunity. Know what that does? This helps clean up our lives and our minds, doesn’t it? Since I’m never going to do that, there’s no sense in me festering and running over in my mind what I’d like to happen to them. I wonder, any of their kids gotten sick yet, are they having any trouble yet? You run over in your mind and there is a certain pleasantness to it because nothing has happened yet, but I get a certain satisfaction now of thinking what I’d like to happen. Of course, Lord, I’d like them to get saved, but preferably after they’ve been really humbled and realize how wrong they were in what they did to me. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.

Respect what is right in the sight of all men. We sometimes have the attitude, as long as I am comfortable before the Lord it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Well, that’s like the statement cleanliness is next to godliness and we say find it in the Bible. Well, I’m sure it’s there. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. There is a responsibility. I must have a clean conscience before the Lord. That’s not the same thing as saying it doesn’t matter what others think. There are certain principles that are recognized as right and honorable. Even though the world may not live by them or follow them, they recognize them. They hold us to a higher standard. The world does all kind of wrong things. If I do it, how many people in this city are going to be stepping to say, see. Doesn’t matter if they do it every day, they expect more of me as a believer, don’t they? Doesn’t do any good to say oh you do it too. Yes, but you weren’t supposed to do it. It’s just the standard, and that’s find. So, I must respect what is right in the sight of al men. I must do what is right, what is honorable, even if they’re not. I must have a respect for that. Our conduct is to be above reproach before the world. I have a list of a dozen or more verses we don’t have time to look at. But our conduct is to be above reproach before the world, what the world thinks. Remember we looked at the qualifications for deacons and elders and we noted, they are to be characteristics of all of us, they are required of those who would be in leadership. One of those is to be of a good reputation of those outside the church. We showed the qualifications or the parameters that must have, but nonetheless it is a qualification. Can’t be the kind of person that there would be any doubts about how I function, what I do. They may not like what I do in some areas because of my commitment to the Word of God, but in my basic character and conduct I ought to be a trustworthy person. I didn’t pull any shady deals with them, I’m not walking that line—well it may, you know it’s borderline. Could have been viewed as wrong, could have been viewed as right, but I think it was okay. I was comfortable before the Lord. Well, it was not good for my testimony. So do what is right in the sight of all.

Verse 18, if possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Now note this important qualification. As much as depends upon you, be at peace with all men. Something wrong with the believer going to war against the world. Now we are at war with the world, but we carry this out into the arena, you know we want to make trouble wherever we are. You know almost every area of life we tie back because this is what we are in Christ. But you know, I’m not called to make the world live like a disciple of Christ, I’m called to present the life-changing gospel that when it is believed they will become a disciple of Christ and thus live to manifest His character. But much of the trouble believers cause in the world, is trying to impose upon the world the conviction of believers. I’m to live at peace with all men. If it’s within my power, I want to have peace. I don’t have to go out and parade around my neighborhood with a placard that says repent, the Lord is coming. So, the neighbors say we don’t like that in our neighborhood. Doesn’t matter, I’m serving the Lord. I must consider, is that the best testimony I can have—antagonize my neighbors. Well, I’m going to put John 3:16 signs all over my yard. Maybe in my neighborhood signs aren’t allowed in the yard. Doesn’t matter, this is my right as a believer, to be a testimony. I’m speaking for the Lord. I also realize Jesus said in Matthew 10 I didn’t come to bring peace but a sword, and I’m going to divide even families. My relationship with Him is a divisive issue, my commitment to the Word of God is a divisive issue, my living my life in obedience to my Savior is a divisive issue. Those things I cannot do anything about. But as much as possible I want to be at peace with all men. I want to be a good neighbor, I want to be a good employee, I want to be a good employer, I want to conduct myself honorably and respectfully. I want to treat them with kindness and thoughtfulness. I may have a very liberal politician living next to me. I don’t want to go out of my way to make him know that I am opposed to the kind of convictions, and I think men like him are ruining our country. I don’t have that personally, so don’t go get the phone book—wonder who lives next to him? That’s just an off-the-roof. That’s not what we are as believers.

So, we are to live at peace with all men. There are opportunities for us. Now Paul knew life in turmoil, he knew life in conflict. Read the book of Acts, there is conflict. But as much as possible. We don’t have to be out making conflict, thinking therefore we are spiritual. It’s far easier to get believers into crusades of all kinds than it is to get them just to share the beauty of the simple gospel. When it’s political involvement. I get more literature on political involvement for Christians and why we as Christians must rally together. I think where in the world. I can be at peace with Democrats, I can be at peace with Republicans, I can be at peace with Independents. It doesn’t mean I have to agree. We live at peace with all men. I expect unregenerate people to live unregenerate lives. I don’t think it’s good, I don’t think it’s good for them. But I don’t think cleaning up their lives is going to bring them any closer to the Lord, they’ll just be Pharisees. So, I live in peace with all men. Sometimes the gospel will bring division and conflict and I’m willing to live with that.

If possible, as far as depends on you be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge. Seems like some of these things I would have organized differently, but they flow in and out of one another. They are part of my life and lifestyle. Never take your own revenge, beloved. I love that he put the word beloved in there. I mean I’m speaking to those that I love, that are loved of the Lord. You realize he’s talking hard things here. Never take your own revenge. That’s hard, especially if you have opportunity to get back at someone. Never take your own revenge.

Leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord. Vengeance, revenge, judgment is God’s prerogative. Do not think more highly of yourselves than you ought to think. How much higher could I get in thinking of myself when I think it’s all right for me to take God’s prerogatives. God says judgment and vengeance belong to Him, but I say in this case I’ll take care of it. That’s the height of arrogance. God has said it’s His prerogative, it’s something He reserves to Himself. Vengeance is mine, I will repay. In God’s due time He will mete out what He has determined is appropriate. I don’t know if I can wait for that. I know the Lord is going to bring judgment, but. But what? I can’t wait. I think their sin deserves punishment, but I’m telling God, don’t tell me what to do. Don’t tell me not to. How self-righteous can I get? How arrogant can I get? Vengeance is yours, and most of the time I’m willing to leave it in your hands, Lord, but this is an exceptional case. We have all kind of reasons why. We’ve been so offended, we were so wronged, this was such and whatever. There are no exceptions, it cleans up my life. I’m not saying I find it easy to live like this. But you know I find these thoughts come into my mind, what do I have to say? Lord, these don’t belong here, I have to discipline my mind, right now they go out. Since I can never take vengeance, since I can never pay back evil for evil, there is no place for me to be rolling this over in my mind. This is to be no part of my life. Lord, I’m to live humbly before you. Amazing thing is not that they are wretched sinners who have done some vile things, the amazing thing is that this wretched sinner has been forgiven his vileness and experienced transforming grace. You know if I keep that as the focus, everything gets constantly brought back. It’s like I put my glasses up, put them down, everything comes into focus. Sometimes I flip them up then I put them back down. Why? I can see better. I have to keep my focus on the grace of God work in my life.

If your enemy is hungry, feed him. We’re not done with this yet. All right, all right, all right Lord, you’ve told me. You told me don’t pay back evil for evil, now you want me to do all these good things to him. If he’s hungry feed him. I’ll feed him. Sure. If he’s thirsty give him a drink. In other words, here, I’m ready to return good for evil all the time. Here’s a person who for years has made my life a misery, we’d say a living hell. I could hardly face every day because I knew he was in a position to make my life miserable. Now they’re in need and here I am saying here’s something I can do to help them. That’s not my first thought. Even if I’d say I won’t do anything bad, it’s not enough to do nothing. You see that. I think wow what a victory, I could have struck back but I didn’t. But that’s not enough. What good did you do for them? What kindness did you show them? Now wait a minute, let’s not go overboard. But we’re back to the Word, aren’t we?

If your enemy is hungry feed him, if he’s thirsty give him a drink. Now I not only don’t pay back evil for evil, but I also pay back good for evil. This is not normal. It’s not. That’s why we had to have the first 11 chapters of Romans. We’re not talking about normal human living, we’re talking about people who now belong to the living God, who recognize His sovereign power at work in their lives and at work in the world, who see His character. Don’t you sometimes watch the news, watch what people say and what they write and wonder how the Lord doesn’t just………I think I’d send a bolt down from heaven. Maybe not every time, but occasionally, just as a wake-up call. But the Lord is patient, not wishing for any to perish. Well, I think some of them. Not for any to perish. I’m to manifest His character.

So, if your enemy is hungry feed him, if he’s thirsty give him a drink. For in doing so you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. The last part of verse 20 is a little bit hard to know for sure what we’re talking about. Some would say it means you heap burning coals on his head, that bring shame to him, and you really overcome evil with good. Perhaps by the graciousness of God.

I Peter 3, we don’t have time to look at some of the passages we might look at. But I Peter 3, when a woman has an unbelieving husband, she continues to function in a godly way. Why? So that without a word by her godly demeanor she might win him. Over time her godliness in the face of his ungodliness perhaps is used by the Spirit of God to bring him to salvation. That could be what’s being talked about here, that finally the impact of that godly character persistent over time is used by God to bring that person to salvation. Could be a possibility.

Another possibility in the context, and this would be more the way the Old Testament uses the coals, it anticipates judgment. The stronger the testimony, the more severe the judgment ultimately will be. We say well would it be right to just continue to do right with the idea God will punish them as He sees fit in His time? Obviously, it will be worse. Greater light brings greater responsibility. When Christ came into Capernaum, He brought greater judgment to them in the future. Why? It would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment because they didn’t have the same light. When you are experiencing persecution, mistreatment and you’re responding with the beauty of the character of God in kindness and goodness, you’re adding to the judgment of that person if they do not turn from their sin. We say well that sounds like maybe you’re out of character. But isn’t that we said in verse 19? Don’t take your own revenge, leave room for the wrath of God. Vengeance is mine, I will repay. Justice will be done. I’m just saying I’m not going to take him into my hands. Now I’m going to do all I can to be a witness and testimony for God, but I know that every time I share the gospel I’ve added to the guilt of that person. Every person who hears the gospel from my lips who does not believe comes under greater condemnation than they ever were before. That’s in God’s hands. So, my testimony in every area of my life all the time is having that impact. So here you’re heaping burning coals on his head, you’re adding to the severity of the judgment that he will bear when God metes out His wrath, His vengeance; so it’s in the Lord’s hands.

Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. That’s my life, to be my lifestyle. I can overcome evil with good by doing good in the presence of evil. When I respond with evil to evil I’ve become like that person. I’ve denied what I preach. I’ve said really under pressure there’s no difference in us. I say the Spirit of God lives within me and made me a new person, but you know what? You put enough pressure on me you’ll find out I’m the same as you and I respond the same. You treat me badly enough you’ll find out it’s all been a veneer. You stab me in the right place, I mean I can take it when you do it to me, but touch my kids, touch my grandkids, now that’s a different story. I can’t be expected to respond with kindness and love and graciousness there. Now wait a minute, now they’ve found out, it’s not genuine. Not real. So overcome evil with good. That’s all we can do as believers, be faithful to the Lord. Everything is in the Lord’s hands, is it not? Do I believe God is sovereign? Do you really believe He is? If I go out tonight and somebody attacks me and beats me up and robs me and leaves me a bloody mess, I say wow where was the Lord? If I could get ahold of them, I’d beat them with a bat, and they’d know what it felt like. Lord, I guess you weren’t at hand. Or do I look and say Lord they were sinful, wicked men, didn’t frustrate your purpose for me. For some reason, I don’t know what, your hand is in this. Give me the grace to respond as I should; and I’ll need His grace. It’s not normal to me apart from the grace of God, it’s not normal to you. I have to steel myself with the truth. All I can do is respond as I should today. I look at events that could take place in my life, my family, and I say I don’t know if I could handle that. I believe God gives grace for what He brings into our life.

What can I say? He hasn’t given me tomorrow’s grace today. If I sit here and say if this happens, I don’t know. All I can do is say Lord by your grace I want to be faithful to you today in whatever situation you bring in my life today. You know if I function that way in all the little things today, that develops me for the big things as we would identify them, that may come into our lives. I’ve developed a pattern. My God is sovereign in the big things and the little things. I want to respond with His character in the big offenses as well as the little offenses, and when I function as I should with the little offenses it prepares me to function as I should with the big ones. We have a powerful God and a powerful salvation. Praise God we are not what we used to be; we have been made new by His power.

Let’s pray together. Thank you, Lord, that our salvation is so wonderful and complete. Lord we’re all stretched by what you require of us now as your children, but it’s your grace that has worked in our lives. You are molding us and shaping us. There is no testing come into our life but what is common to man. Lord your grace is sufficient in each and every situation. I pray for those even here tonight who are being tested to their limits. Lord, may they be encouraged by your grace to find you sufficient. For all of us Lord in the pressures of our lives, may we be willing to see the beauty of your character, not just willing desires. In those most difficult circumstances may the beauty of your work in our lives be clear. In our relationships to one another, Lord, may we not be wise in our own estimation. We thank you for the growth that we experience, for the maturing that goes on. God, again, may that progressively cause us to appreciate more fully your work of grace in our lives, thus, to appreciate more fully your work of grace in the lives of others. May that be true of us in the days of the week ahead of us. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.