Introduction

Paul teaches the Roman churches how to live faithfully in a society that often doubts or opposes Christians. Most of their neighbors and family were not believers, and many were becoming suspicious or even hostile. Despite their political vulnerability under Emperor Nero, Paul encourages believers not to compromise their faith but to focus on being effective witnesses. In a few more years, the government would become a formidable enemy; therefore, if believers weren’t careful, their situation could deteriorate rapidly. But just because they were politically vulnerable didn’t mean they were spiritually weak. Paul is not telling them to hide or give up their faith. They are still called to reach that city for Christ. Instead, he guides them on how to stay effective in winning souls amid that dangerous environment. He advises them on responding to oppression, protecting God’s reputation, and reaching out to even their adversaries, urging them to avoid unnecessary conflicts and focus on what truly matters. He doesn’t want them to get caught up in fights that don’t matter, so they can stay focused on what does. This also applies to us. We need to learn how to live peacefully in a non-Christian society, even with those who oppress us. Why? So, they too can find peace with God.

The Power of Corruption

• We often think of persecution as something that refines a believer’s heart, and it certainly can. But it can also corrupt it.
• When anyone is treated unjustly, a natural anger arises, and because we know we were innocent victims, particularly if there has been a serious injury, we feel entirely justified in our anger, and in one sense, we are. However, the danger arises when we decide to even the score for ourselves rather than waiting for God to do it.
• We seek our own revenge, and when we do, we open ourselves to be controlled by the same angry, hateful spirit that attacked us in the first place.
• We return hatred for hatred and only make the situation worse. Hurting someone back may make us feel better for a moment, but it inevitably invites a reprisal, and we end up in an escalating feud.
• The real tragedy is that in the process, we lose any concern for that person’s soul. Our hearts become as hard as theirs.
• Paul says we should seek to live in peace with everyone. He wants us to try to reconcile every broken relationship. This is because he understands the danger that comes from even one enemy.
• Enemies don’t stop being enemies without reconciliation (Ac 19:30; 2Ti 4:13-21; Heb 13:23-24).
• Bitter people don’t forget. They continue to talk and spread their bitterness to others, which closes doors to the gospel. The devil wants people to grow angry at Christians.
• This is not a call to passivity or to ignore injustice, but rather an invitation to a higher calling—a way of living that refuses to let bitterness take root.
• The gospel calls us beyond our first instincts. As followers of Christ, we are not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good.
• Paul knows that vengeance is a powerful temptation, especially for those who have genuinely suffered. Yet he urges us to entrust justice to God, who alone judges perfectly.
• Pursuing reconciliation does not mean excusing wrong, but it does mean refusing to let someone else’s hostility shape our character.

The Power of Compassion

• Paul tells us that we should never try to take revenge for ourselves, because that’s God’s responsibility.
• He quotes a passage from Deuteronomy (Dt 32:34-36) that says God doesn’t forget the evil done to His people (Rev 6:9-11).
• If you think about what will happen to those who hate Jesus and hurt us because of Him and don’t repent before they die (2Th 1:6-10), it ought to stir compassion in us for our worst oppressor.
• No matter what’s been done to us, no one in whom the love of God dwells can desire such an eternal destiny for anyone, which is why we choose to love our enemies and seek to win them to Christ.
• When people hurt us, they expect us to respond a certain way. That’s the way the world works. But Jesus asks us to respond in a radically different way (Mt 5:38-45). He tells us to treat our enemies kindly, the way God treats them. Instead of seeking revenge when they hurt us, we extend grace to them.
• What’s happening is that through us, they are encountering Jesus, and they are compelled to confront the cruel spirit that has gripped them.
• In the way we respond, God shows them that He will still show them mercy despite what they have done. His love for them has not died (Jn 13:20).
• In effect, through our actions, we tell them, “I’m going to show you that God will give you mercy instead of the justice you deserve, that He still loves you despite your sin.”

The Power of Peace

• How are we to function in a hostile society, according to Paul?
1. Care for each other like family. Find those who are suffering and help them (Romans 12:9-16).
2. Refuse to become bitter toward those who persecute you. You’ve been called to minister redemption, not condemnation (2Co 5:18). Pray for them; don’t curse them (v14).
3. Think carefully before you act. How will your response impact the community? Will what you’re about to do push people further away from the gospel or help build a good reputation for Christ (v17)?
4. Strive to live peacefully with everyone. Work to mend every broken relationship. Do your best to avoid making enemies (v18).
5. Resist the urge to seek revenge. If they don’t repent, God will administer His justice (Dt 32:34-36). He won’t forget the evil done to His people (Rev 6:9-11, v19).
6. Instead of hating them, we look for chances to show kindness (Lk 6:27-30, 35-36). This isn’t passivity; it’s a form of spiritual warfare that can conquer the evil that has taken hold of them (vs. 20-21).
7. Remain discreet. Avoid confrontations with the civil government. As a Christian, you are still expected to obey laws and pay taxes, unless a specific law or authority requires you to violate God’s Word. We want to prevent the government from viewing Christians as a rebellious group that believes it’s above the law (Ro. 13:1-7).
• This radical posture of peace breaks the cycle of retaliation. It preserves our witness and keeps hope alive in even the hardest of hearts—both theirs and ours.
• In the upside-down kingdom of Christ, responding with grace can turn enemies into neighbors and skeptics into seekers.
• This is not an easy calling; it goes against every natural instinct for self-preservation and vindication. Yet, it is precisely this countercultural love that sets us apart. When we choose mercy over malice, forgiveness over fury, and reconciliation over resentment, we embody the heart of Christ to a watching world. Our actions offer a living testimony, speaking louder than words, that the gospel is not merely a message of hope but a way of life that transforms both individuals and communities.
• Every act of peace, every gentle word, and every patient response is a seed sown in faith—a seed with the potential to bear fruit in places we may never see. We trust God with the outcome, knowing that no labor done in love is ever wasted in His kingdom.

Conclusion

As we reflect on these truths, let us remember that the call to radical peace and redemptive love is not something we carry out in our own strength. It is the outflow of a life transformed by the mercy and grace we ourselves have received. Though challenging, this way of living is made possible because Christ first loved us and empowers us by His Spirit to love others, even those who have wronged us. In every interaction, we are invited to echo the gospel, to demonstrate forgiveness where the world expects retaliation, and to be a living signpost pointing to the hope found in Jesus. Let us go forward, then, as agents of reconciliation, sowing seeds of peace, confident that God will use even our smallest efforts to bring about His healing in the world. We must learn to live in peace in a non-Christian society, even with those who oppress us, so they, too, can find peace with God. This is the power of the Peacemaker.

Discussion Questions

How can we practically ‘overcome evil with good’ in our daily lives, especially when faced with hostility or persecution?
In what ways might seeking revenge corrupt our own hearts, and how can we guard against this temptation?
Reflecting on the examples of Roman emperors mentioned, how can we maintain our faith and witness in the face of unjust or corrupt leadership?