Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, from the book of Romans.
When we become a Christian we must learn not to retaliate against others when they wrong us. This is a very difficult concept for the carnal nature to accept, but if we are truly going to love our neighbor as ourself, we are not going to desire to return the evil that they have done to us, back to them. After all, we are supposed to treat others the same way that we want to be treated. As a Christian we must learn not to strike back against others when they cause us to suffer. Jesus sees our patient suffering, and I guarantee you, He will avenge.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Vengeance is punishment that is afflicted, or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong. Punishments can come from many different places of authority in this world, but the the vengeance that we are discussing today, comes directly from Christ Jesus Himself, because He says… ” I will repay.” He fought on the behalf of the Israelites in Egypt. He sent pestilence and sufferings throughout the land. He delivered them through the red sea, destroying the armies of Pharoah, and He continues to do the same today, fighting and avenging those who suffer on His behalf, and who wait patiently for his justice.
Luke 18:1-8 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily…
Retaliate is defined as to respond to a wrong by returning the wrong with an equally wrong action. An example of retaliating is for a person to punch someone who has hit them. To return like for like, evil for evil, or injury for injury.
Matthew 5:38-40 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
In the carnal nature, it is extremely simple to want to fight back and retaliate, but we must walk in the steps of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. Although He could have destroyed the entire world in the blink of an eye, He didn’t.
1 Peter 2:19-24 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
As a Christian we are called to be passive, which means to accept or allow what happens, or what evil that others do to us, without active response or resistance. Even when we are defrauded of something that is rightfully ours, we need to suffer it knowing that Jesus is watching from heaven and will avenge and deliver us.
1 Corinthians 6:6-8 But brother is goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Instead of suing people in a courtroom, we allow ourselves to be wronged, looking to the life of our Lord Jesus as an example.
Hebrews 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds..Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
We are not supposed to recompense evil for evil to any man. Recompense means to pay back, returning compensation for what has been done to you.
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
We never need to avenge ourselves, because vengeance will come from Christ the Lord.
Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Even when we have to suffer persecution, God is watching.
1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
When you are capable of not avenging yourself, allowing yourself to suffer with the wrongs that people commit against you, you have ceased from sin.
1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
It’s a very good thing when you want to do God’s will and you suffer for it.
1 Peter 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
You don’t have to avenge yourself, because as Pharaoh learned, God will….
…..Even The Score.
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching tlkjbc, or by going to hipcast, buzzsprout or amazon, or by getting our entire podcast feeds directly at tlkjbc.com, or I suppose, you can find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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