Returning Good For Evil

TEXT: Rom. 12:17-21

INTRODUCTION:

A.    EASY TO UNDERSTAND – SOME OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO.

B.    RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL IS NOT THE USUAL WAY WE DO

        THINGS.

I.     THESE ARE THE PRINCIPLES THAT SET THE

      TEACHINGS OF JESUS APART!

A.    GO BACK TO THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (Matt. 5:43-48).

        1.     vs. 43.  An evil heart will alter the command of God (Lev. 19:18).

                        They added “hate thine enemy.”  Why?

        2.     The human way is to worse to him than he did to you.

        3.     Jewish Civil Law specified no worse thing be done (Lev. 24:17, 22).

B.    1 Pet. 3:8-9 IS THE COMMAND, 2:21-23 IS OUR EXAMPLE.

II.    EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO RETURNED GOOD FOR

       EVIL.

A.    JOSEPH (Gen. 50:15-21;  45:1-8).

B.    NAAMAN’S SLAVE GIRL (2 Kings 5:1-4).

C.    DAVID AND SAUL (1 Sam. 24:1-15).

D.    STEPHEN PRAYED FOR HIS MURDERERS (Acts 7:54-60).

III.   THESE PRINCIPLES FOUND THROUGHOUT THE NEW

      TESTAMENT.

A.    THE “GOLDEN RULE” (Matt. 7:12).

B.    EXAMPLE OF A LITTLE CHILD (Matt. 18:1-3).

You can spank a little child and in a little while he will be putting his arms around you.

C.    Gal. 6:10.  IF EVERYONE FOLLOWED THIS RULE THERE WOULD BE NO MURDERS OR THEFTS AND NO RIFTS BETWEEN BRETHREN.

D.    THE CHRISTIAN IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS TO LEAVE VENGEANCE TO THE LORD (Rom. 12:19).

E.    THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO LIVE (1 Pet. 3:10-12).

F.    WILL WE BE FORGIVEN? (Matt. 6:15).

        1.     If we have wronged him (Matt. 5:23-24).

        2.     If he is in the wrong (Matt. 18:15).

CONCLUSION:  GOD HAS CHOSEN NOT TO “GET EVEN” WITH US!