[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, January 5, 2025 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Overcome Evil with Good (Romans 12:14-21)
2025. 1. 5. 주일예배 설교- 로마서 강해 30
본문: 로마서 12:14-21
제목: 선으로 악을 이기라
설교자: 손진국 목사
Romans 12 teaches how God's children, who have become new people through faith in Jesus Christ, should live in the world. Especially from verse 14 onwards, today's passage shows how Christians can exert a good influence on the world and change it.
Do you want to change this evil world for good? Do you want to have the influence to transform it? Listen closely to today's message.
First, what kind of relationships does God want us believers, His people, to have with those around us while we live in this world? What is God's will in our relationships with people?
[Romans 12:18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
God desires us to live at peace with everyone. But how can this be done?
1. Do not repay evil for evil.
[Romans 12:17a] Do not repay anyone evil for evil...
This command is similar to the instruction not to conform to the patterns of the world. The way of the world is to repay evil with evil, to take revenge and punish those who wronged us.
Look at politics. It often involves exposing and spreading others' faults. It is the same in business—competing by exploiting competitors' weaknesses and causing their downfall.
"Do not repay anyone evil for evil" implies that someone has done evil to us—treated us poorly, spoken ill of us, spread lies about us, ignored us, or caused us harm. Just as verse 14 says:
[Romans 12:14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
One thing to remember is that as we live in this world, such situations will happen. At those moments, we may think, "Wait and see," "Let's see how well you do," or "I'll make sure you pay for this one day." These thoughts of revenge or cursing come naturally.
However, listen to God's Word: do not repay evil with evil and do not curse.
What does it mean to repay evil for evil? Evil (惡) is composed of 亞 (second, inferior) and 心 (heart/mind). 亞 represents the outline of a tomb. Evil, ultimately, refers to a heart that desires harm, disaster, dirtiness, or disease upon others—a desire to inflict what everyone wishes to avoid.
But remember this: repaying evil with evil not only destroys others but also destroys yourself.
(Illustration: A true story from America long ago) A murderer received a death sentence in court. Awaiting execution, he could not sleep due to his overwhelming anger, unable to reflect on his wrongdoing and feeling as if he was the victim.
His brother, a respectable man who contributed greatly to the nation and was well-regarded, appealed to the governor, a close friend, and later to the president, pleading for mercy. A pardon was granted in recognition of his brother's merits, and a letter of pardon was sent.
When the brother visited the prisoner, he had the pardon in his pocket. He asked, "If you were released, what would you do first?"
The prisoner responded, "I'm consumed with revenge. I can't sleep at night because of it. I'd kill the judge who sentenced me and every witness who testified against me." Hearing this, the brother said nothing, turned around, and left. The pardon remained untouched in his pocket.
Dear congregation, has someone wronged you or treated you unjustly? Are you struggling to sleep because of your anger? Remember, God sent His pardon through His angels, but because of our feelings of injustice, revenge, and anger, He sadly cannot give us His pardon or blessings.
Remember, we no longer belong to this world but to God's kingdom through Jesus Christ. If someone curses you, do not curse them in return. If someone persecutes you, do not hate or curse them. If someone treats you like an enemy, do not treat them as an enemy. If someone belittles or dismisses you, do not belittle or dismiss them in return.
Repaying evil with evil may seem like it will calm your anger and fears, but it only invites greater anger and fear. Remember that it ultimately destroys the peace within you.
[Application] Is there someone who has made your life difficult or treated you unfairly, causing you feelings of anger, injustice, or hatred? How are you treating that person?
2. Do good instead.
[Romans 12:17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
[Romans 12:14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
The phrase "Do not repay anyone evil for evil" means, first, to stop responding immediately, and second, to change your thoughts. Change your thoughts from worldly ways to God's ways. God's way is to actively do good.
These days, it seems that the first step works quite well. People try not to repay evil for evil because they have a heart that wants to avoid sinning. However, the second step is not followed. People do not actively do good. If something doesn't suit their hearts, they stay silent. They know they shouldn't do evil, so they don't, but they don't actively do good either. They neither curse nor bless. They just fold their arms and watch. "It has nothing to do with me. Let's see how it goes." At first glance, it may seem like obedience, but it is not. There is much disobedience disguised as obedience.
In such cases, inner anxiety, resentment, and anger are actually hidden. Though they seem fine on the outside, the dissatisfaction, resentment, and anger eventually reveal themselves. They come out in the closest relationships. They remain silent at work, school, or church, but at home, they vent their frustrations to their spouse, children, siblings, or parents. They think it will feel better after venting, but that's not the case. The dissatisfaction and resentment only grow.
How can we overcome this?
[Romans 12:21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Actively doing good is the solution.
[Romans 12:20] 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.
The "enemy" refers to someone you dislike. The worldly way says, “If my enemy is hungry, that’s good; they deserve it for treating me poorly. Let them suffer as I did.” But God says to give food and drink to those who hunger, even if they looked down on or ignored you. He tells us to forget the wrongs they have done to us. Feeding the hungry or giving drink to the thirsty is a basic human act of kindness, and God calls it good. He asks us to do what we are supposed to do.
(Example) In Korea, there was a situation regarding the church's debt from construction. A missionary in China sent clothing to help, intending the church to sell it and use the proceeds. But one person opposed this. They felt the church should rely solely on prayer for God's provision rather than use human methods.
When the pastor asked for opinions during a meeting, the person honestly opposed the idea. Afterward, they worried the pastor started viewing them negatively because of their stance. As the clothing sales continued, the individual became more uncomfortable, eventually sharing their thoughts with me.
I replied, “You did well by voicing your honest opinion. However, if I were you, I would actively support the church's decision, despite my reservations. I would buy more clothes than others, using them as gifts for unsaved family members or neighbors. That is repaying evil with good. Who knows? God might use your actions to touch the pastor's heart.” They agreed and promised to try, ending the call feeling lighter.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, they hid from Him.
[Genesis 3:8] Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
What was in their hearts?
[Genesis 3:10] He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
They were afraid. Disobedience toward God brings fear and anxiety. When God asked Adam if he had eaten the forbidden fruit:
[Genesis 3:12] The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Adam blamed the woman and, indirectly, God. Resentment and anger were directed outward instead of recognizing their true source: himself. God created humans to obey Him and live in faith and love, experiencing true peace. When we disobey, peace shatters, and resentment arises—not due to others or circumstances but because of ourselves.
Are you resenting someone or feeling angry or anxious? That could be a compass indicating you are going against God’s will.
God desires us to live in peace with everyone.
How?
The first step is not to repay evil for evil.
The second step is to actively do good.
True influence comes when we repay evil with good, especially when helping an enemy in need. Do not rejoice at their misfortune but respond with love and care. Acting out of love will not lead to divine punishment; it fosters understanding.
The root problem within the church is people repaying evil with evil and blaming others with a judgmental attitude while excusing their flaws with grace.
True peace comes from doing good. Though evil may initially satisfy, it leaves behind fear and shame. Hiding it can lead to more wrongdoing.
We must overcome the world—not with power, but with love. Overcome evil with good.
Remember: those who have wronged you deserve your love because God loves them and placed them in your life through His grace.
[Application] Have you ever overcome evil with good? Whom does God call you to do good to today?
May all God’s people here actively do good, overcoming evil and spreading His influence, in the name of the Lord.
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.