Our lesson this evening will focus on living peaceably with all men. We're going to turn to Romans chapter 12, verses 17 through verse 21.
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." — Romans 12:17-21
You know, we live in a world that's very hostile. We've been in our country at war for over 20 years, at least until recently. But, that's not the warfare that, the conflict, that tears us up the most is it? It's the conflict that just goes on in our world between worldviews, between ideas. It is a battle not fought on a physical battlefield, but it's fought in the minds and the hearts.
The weapons used in this war are often mean spiteful and hurtful words. The weapons oftentimes are gossip, slander, and malicious hate. In the midst of all of this world though, there's nothing new about that, that's the world in which Jesus lived, and all that stuff going on has always been going on.
In the midst of this world, how are Christians to live?
Christians Are to be a Peaceful People
It is God's will that we live in peace.
- 1 Timothy 2:1-2
We're to pray for that so that we can live in that peaceful world. Christians are to live in peace with all men. Unfortunately, though this is not always possible,
- Romans 12:18
It's not always possible to live peaceably, unfortunately.
You know the word peace, comes from a Greek word, eirēneuō, which is defined as harmonious relationships between men' or the harmonized relationship between God and man. Another definition says to make peace, cultivate or keep peace, harmony, be at peace, and live in peace.
And so, Paul, in chapter 12, here teaches us how to live in peace.
The Attitude of Peace
We see the attitude, first of all, in verse 18 of the peaceable. As much as lieth in you..., if it be possible. You know, there are situations in which we can't have any control. You can't control what others think, say, or do. You can't control if someone hates you without a cause.
- Psalm 35:19
Peace with others is not always possible, and we should not sacrifice what is right or true in the name of peace. We shouldn't compromise doctrine to make peace. We shouldn't make an accommodation with evil in the name of peace.
As Winston Churchill said about those that wanted to appease Adolf Hitler.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” — Sir Winston Churchill.
We are to stand up for ourselves and stand up for the truth. But we are not to get involved in personal fights as much as life is in you. To the extent that you are able to live peaceably, do everything in your power to make peace.
- Matthew 5:9
To be a child of God means you must be one who seeks to make peace, even though it's not always possible. But, as much as life is in you, do your parts is what he's saying here.
The Vengeance of the Peaceable
We see in verse 19, the vengeance of the peaceable.
- Romans 12:19
You know, there's that old proverb that says, If revenge you seek first dig two graves because those who have that heart of revenge, they may kill their enemy, but they're gonna destroy themselves in the meantime.
- Romans 12:17
Don't pay back evil with evil. Rather, he says, give place unto wrath. You know, give God space. God will take His vengeance. God will take His wrath on those that have hatred in their hearts.
- Ephesians 4:26-27
It says here, vengeance is mine saith the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 32:30
Don't act out of wrath to seek personal vengeance. God will take care of it in His time.
- Romans 13:1-7
That's one way that God takes care of it in this world is through the use of civil governments to punish the evil-doer. He says I will repay saith the Lord.
The same word, repay, is the same word as give recompense. It means to give an equivalent to requite. We're not to recompense evil for evil. We're not to do evil to those who have done evil to us.
The Actions of the Peaceable
In Romans chapter 12 verse 20, we see the actions of the peaceable.
We're to seek what we can to do good unto those that hate us.
- Matthew 5:44
And, we see that very clearly in Jesus. Even while he's hanging upon the cross, He said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. And so, do good to those that hate you. Try to make peace.
He says, for in so doing, you'll heap coals of fire on his head. You know the Greek word here, heap coals, is the same word we get anthrax from. Used metaphorically it means to cause keen anguish or make remorseful. Such kindness turned back on the wrongdoer may lead to his repentance. And so it may act upon their conscience. Where it's not doing it so that they may feel that pain themselves. It's just when we do good and if they have an honest heart, they are going to feel that guilt, and maybe that guilt will turn them back around again.
The Intentions of the Peaceable
- Romans 12:21
Don't let evil conquer you. When you seek your own personal revenge, when you seek to get back at those that hurt you, you're being overcome by evil. When we recompense evil when we fight fire with fire. And so, we're then to overcome evil with good.
Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him in love.
"It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business." — Mahatma Gandhi
And so, overcome evil with good.
You know, as Christians, we are to be peaceable, to be the child of God, one must be one who is a maker of peace.
Jesus, of course, is the Prince of peace. He made it possible for us to have peace with God and for us to come together and make peace with one another. And so, He's made it possible for us to be at peace with God.
- Ephesians 2:13
And so you think about when we are in our sins, we are at enmity with God. And yet, God out of His love for us in the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life., John 3:16. He made that sacrifice to make it possible for us to be at peace with Him.
- John 14:27
You know, Jesus left us in peace. He died so that we could live in peace. And He's coming back one day to bring us to where we can be with God for eternity.
But the only way that we can be at peace with God, the only way that we can spend eternity in Heaven with God and with His Son Jesus Christ, is by first of all, believing of course, and in belief, repent of your sins. Do your best to live peaceably with all men. Repent of your sins and be baptized to wash away your sins. Confessing your belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
If you have not done that, we urge you to put on Christ in baptism. If you have done that but have not been doing your part to live in peace with all men, we urge you to repent. If we can assist you in your walk with God we ask that you contact us today.
