Micah 4:1-3
In looking at our response to evil in the previous part of this lesson we will now look at what it means to be partakers of the divine nature. First, in order to be like God - Lk 6:35-36 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." God is described as:
Kind, even to unthankful and evil men - Ro 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Just, as will be manifested one day - Ro 2:5-8 "But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury."
God expects His spiritual kingdom to demonstrate His mercy:
By proclaiming the gospel of mercy - 1 Pe 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
By demonstrating mercy in our lives - Lk 6:36 "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."
God expects earthly governments to exercise His vengeance:
They are His ministers to which we are to submit - Ro 13:1-3 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,"
They are to execute wrath on the evil doer - Ro 13:4 "for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."
Unless we are proper representatives of the government, it is not our place to administer
justice to evildoers. We must leave vengeance (justice) to God - Ro 12:19 "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."' We must let His governmental agents execute wrath - Ro 13:4 "for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." -- With the exception of "church discipline" - 1 Co 5:1-13; 2 Th 3:6-15. As "sons of the Highest", our duty is to show mercy, or active good will. Showing kindness to our enemies - Ro 12:20 "To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."' Refusing to be overcome by evil (i.e., brought down to their level) - Ro 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." -- As we respond to evil with mercy and goodness, we are more likely to obtain our third reason for reacting to evil in this way...
To overcome evil - Ro 12:21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." How can we best hope to overcome evil and change the evil person? If we react as:
1) Avenger, defender or passive resister
2) We only convince the opposition that might makes right
If we react as:
1) Runner or helpless
2) We may only confirm the opposition's view that we are cowardly or weak
The most likely way to both overcome evil and change the evil person is by reacting with active good will! Is this not how God sought to change the world? - Ro 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."; Jn 3:16 `"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."; Ro 2:4 "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" Is this not how Jesus sought to change the world? - 1 Pe 2:21-25 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." Certainly Jesus' example demonstrates a better way to handle conflict and evil... His humility and sacrificial love has motivated many to turn from sin. And we are called to walk in His steps!
Those who do often follow Jesus' example make a powerful impact on others: Kim Joon-gon has seen 2,000 out 20,000 people on Chunnam Island murdered by the Communists. They dragged his family to a spot where 160 people from two villages had gathered to beat the Christians. There Kim's father and wife were beaten to death and Kim was left for dead. When he revived and sought safety at an acquaintance's house, he was turned over to the Communists. Only the sudden appearance of an American ship off the island coast saved him this time, for the Communist soldiers hurried away to battle. He hid out in the countryside until the South Korean army captured the island. The Communists who had killed his wife and father were arrested. Because it was wartime, the police chief had authority to execute without trial. But as the chief prepared to kill the men, Kim pleaded, `Spare them. They were forced to kill.'
The police chief showed great surprise. `It was your family they killed! Why do you now ask for their lives?' Kim replied quietly, `Because the Lord, whose I am and whom I serve, would have me show mercy to them.' The Communists were spared execution because of Kim's plea. News of his action spread among other Communist supporters in the area. When Kim later ascended a mountain to preach to Communists hiding out, he was not killed. Many of the Communists became Christians, and when Kim finally left the island there was a flourishing church of 108 members. - Dictionary Of Illustrations, p. 188
We may never be called upon to manifest the power of responding to evil with good in such a remarkable way... We can begin though by how we respond to personal abuses we often receive from others. We can react to evil treatment even on a small scale with active good will. How? By showing that we are different from sinners; demonstrating that we are trying to be sons of the Highest we are more likely to overcome evil and convert the sinner. Reacting to evil with good will does not always convert the evildoer.... Jesus was crucified on the cross, enduring hostility by sinners - He 12:2-3 "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." In such cases we must commit our cause to God, as did Jesus - 1 Pe 2:21-23 "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."; 4:19 "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." While the physical government may step in and exercise the judgment of God, our duty as citizens of the spiritual kingdom is to show mercy:
"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful"
Whenever we show mercy (or active good will) in response to evil, we fulfill one of the many promises of the Messianic age:
"Neither shall they learn war any more."
Speaking of mercy, have you accepted the invitation of God to respond to His loving mercy through obedience to the gospel...?
