Romans 12:9-21-Part 4

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 93 Chapter 12:9 – 21

“Our relationship to society.” - Part 4 Verses 17 – 21

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
1. “Recompense to no man evil for evil…”

a. This is a demand for all Christians; this is not a recommendation but an absolute demand, and one that is hard to follow very long.

b. 1 Peter 2:11-12 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (12.) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

2. “…Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

a. The word “provide” means - to consider in advance, that is, look out for beforehand – and it comes from a Greek word that means - to exercise the mind – If the Christian will exercise the mind and think ahead or in advance then doing right is much simpler. 1 Peter 3:9 “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

b. “…in the sight of all men.” That they may see the glory of God in you. 2 Corinthians 8:21 “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”

c. A Christian is a Christian every where but especially when the lost is watching. God gets glory from our proper actions and dishonor with our improper actions.

2. Verse 18 “Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
1. Yes it says “If it be possible…” not forgetting what God had just said about thinking ahead, and understanding that vengeance is the Lord’s and He will repay. However there will be times when getting along with people just is not possible.
2. God never put us in the position that we cannot defend ourselves. Even in war, however if peace is possible then it is better.
3. Christians are the salt of the earth, and we should be good, loving, and peaceful people as far as we can. Psalms 34:14 “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
4. Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Not that being a “peacemaker” will get you to heaven but that a Christian should be a peacemaker.
5. Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” They see the Lord in us Christians, thru our actions, the changes we have toward love, peace, honesty, and etc.
3. Verse 19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

1. “…but rather give place unto wrath…” wrath does not belong to the Christian but to God, therefore we are to refrain from it.
2. Leviticus 19:18 “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
3. “…for it is written…” Deuteronomy 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
3. Verse 20 “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.”

1. “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink…” Christians helps others, just as Jesus did. Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
2. C. S. Lewis once said “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.” – on the other hand can we add; helping others is a good idea until it is time to help them.
3. “…for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” This comes from Proverbs 25:21-22 “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: (22.) For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”

a. This would normally refer to Gods judgment, however here it may mean that our helping others will be a great witness to the lost man. While mankind is selfish by nature, this is an example of Gods change in the Christian.

b. Song of Solomon 8:6 “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. (7.) Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.”

5. Verse 21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1. J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible had this thought; “In other words, stop being overcome of evil; overcome evil by means of good. As the believer walks through this evil world with its satanic system, he cannot fight it. If you attempt to fight this satanic system, my friend, it will whip you. You cannot adopt the same worldly tactics of hate and revenge. If you do, you can be assured of defeat.”
2. Letting evil subdue you or conquer you hurts your Christian testimony, if we are overcome with evil then our “light” cannot shine, can it.
3. The Lord will reward those that let good overcome evil. The Christian should never keep to evil in thought or in actions. Our goodness is a testimony to the Lord and His work in us.