REPAYMENT PLANS and LOVING ENEMIES

10.16.22
Brian Newman

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)

A REVIEW of Romans 12 Messages

Romans 12:3-8 – How believers relate to each other in church

1) Forgive each other for not being God

2) Listen in Love

3) Stay in relationship

12:9 – 16: How believers relate to each other and SOME to the world

1) Enlarge your heart

2) Expand your mind

3) Develop Gentle Hands

Romans 12:17-21: How believers turn outward and relate to world

Live Actively in God’s Redemptive Story

v. 19: Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32 - poem of God’s redemptive story

“The song establishes the generosity and reliability of YHWH and Israel’s constant recalcitrance that refuses to trust and obey YHWH.” (Walter Brueggemann)

“The poem bears witness to YHWH’s sovereign capacity for both judgement and compassion, both of which are finally WHWY’s free acts, even if evoked in turn by Israel and by the nations.” (Walter Brueggemann)

Living actively in God’s redemptive story means NOT being consumed and obsessed by other smaller stories!

Resist Evil

Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:17-18)

Romans 12:9: Hate what is evil; cling to what is good

We must identify evil and then respond to it – by doing good!

This is NOT how our culture sees things! This is the way of the Kingdom of God!

Love Your Enemies

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” (Romans 12:20)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44)

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22)

“If we want more unity and less contempt, we need to get out of our comfort zones, go where we are not welcome, and spend time talking and interacting with people with whom we disagree—not on lightweight stuff like sports and food, but on hard moral things.” (Arthur Brooks, Love Your Enemy)