Chapter # 12 Paragraph # 4 Study # 13
August 2, 2020
Humble, Texas
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Thesis:   The believer's responsibility in dealing with "enemies" is to do good to them and let God handle the vengeance.

Introduction:   In our last study we focused upon the claim that God's "Lord" is Jesus (Acts 2:36) and His words announce that retribution for evil is His prerogative. We also considered the fact that though His exercise of that prerogative is often through intermediate agents, it is still His prerogative and His to accomplish. This is the foundation of the believer's walk in unhypocritical Love. Enemies are to be "loved".

However, that is not all that Paul addressed in his appeal to the things that "stand written" as "sayings" of The Lord. This evening we are going to continue in our study of Paul's rationale from those things that have been written for centuries as they apply to the believer's response to the evil actions of his/her enemies.

• I. Paul's Rationale Continued.
  • A. The greatest issues in Paul's reasonings is his insistence upon walking in unhypocritical love and depending upon God to take care of the retribution due to those who seek the injury of others.
    • 1. This insistence is not without its "problems" for men in their reasonings.
      • a. Many think that "Love" means that believers are not supposed to entertain any sort of desire for "revenge".
        • 1) This is patently denied by Revelation 6:10.
        • 2) That "God is Love" is not contradicted by "Vengeance is Mine, says The Lord, I will repay".
        • 3) There is a legitimate place in God for both "Love" and "Hate"; for "Grace" and "Justice".
        • 4) Thus, there is also a legitimate place in God's people for "Love" and "Hate"; for "Grace" and "Justice".
      • b. Many also think that "unhypocritical Love" means "does not include" one of the two things that make it "unhypocritical".
        • 1) In Paul's original summons to "let love be without hypocrisy" has two most fundamental elements, not one.
          • a) An active abhorrence regarding "the evil".
          • b) An active "fixed unity" to "the good".
        • 2) Thus, on the one hand, one cannot be involved with a "fixed unity" to "the good" without "doing good" to others, including one's enemies.
          • a) This is finalized with Paul's last words on the subject: 12:21.
          • b) This is emphasized by Paul's instructions on how to deal with one's enemies when they "hunger" and "thirst".
          • c) And this is explained by Paul's doctrine of "self-loss for the sake of those loved" in harmony with "other-gain by those loved".
            • i. When Christ died for us while we were enemies, He clarified the fact that "Love" is doing for others what they need to have done for them.
            • ii. When Christ comes to judge the wicked, He will clarify the fact that "Love" hates evil because of the damage it does to those "beloved".
            • iii. The plain truth is that God loves His enemies so that He will hold them accountable who do damage to them and God loves His People so that He will also hold them accountable who do damage to them.
        • 3) And, thus, on the other hand, one cannot be involved with a potent hostility toward "The Evil" without actively desiring the retribution due to them who do evil.
          • a) Paul's limitation upon "avenging oneself" is not a limitation of "desire"; it is a limitation of "action".
          • b) One can give food and drink to an enemy while simultaneously longing for his/her experience of retribution for the wickedness done.
    • 2. The bottom line in the Love/Hate, Grace/Retribution issues is "unhypocritical love".
      • a. If one is willing to suffer the retribution due another (including enemies), love/grace is "in place" (Romans 9:3).
      • b. Alternatively, if one is willing for the wicked to experience the retribution that is due, hate/retribution is "in place" (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7).
• II. Paul's Final Conclusion.
  • A. Stop allowing The Evil to overcome (by ceasing the pursuit of one's own revenge).
    • 1. This does not necessarily include any real anticipation that those committed to The Evil will change.
    • 2. It simply means that one's own "battle" is resolved in a way that keeps oneself from doing evil (which includes taking one's own revenge).
  • B. But.
  • C. Be overcoming The Evil (by taking the present, needful, action of The Good).
    • 1. This does not mean "overcoming The Evil in others".
    • 2. This does mean "overcoming The Evil in oneself".

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This is article #064.
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