Romans 12:17-21 - Heap Burning Coals
- Chad Werkhoven
- 31 minutes ago
- 5 min read
You're commanded to live at peace with everyone. How?!?!?
Romans 12:1–16 (NIV)
CONTEXT: We read the first two verses of this chapter Monday, verses 3-6 on Tuesday, and verses 9-16 yesterday. We finish out the chapter today.
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“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.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Canons of Dordt
Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 12 - The Lifestyle Assurance Brings
This assurance of perseverance, however,
so far from making true believers proud and carnally self-assured,
is rather the true root of
humility,
of childlike respect,
of genuine godliness,
of endurance in every conflict,
of fervent prayers,
of steadfastness
in crossbearing
and in confessing the truth,
and of well-founded joy in God.
Reflecting on this benefit provides an incentive to
a serious and continual practice of thanksgiving and good works,
as is evident from the testimonies of Scripture and the examples of the saints.
Summary
Today's Summary and Dig Deeper sections are a re-post from October 2, 2023.
One of our most fundamental inclinations as North Americans is the concept of fairness - that people ought to get exactly what they deserve. It's this deeply embedded motivation that the Bible calls you to push back against! Rather than repaying a person by giving him what he's got coming, you must not take revenge.
The Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that that an ugly concept like murder is not limited to the overt actions related to physically taking a person's life, but extends to seemingly benign actions such as belittling and insulting people. Sometimes it might feel good to blow off a little steam by verbally assaulting a person who's been giving you grief so that things don't escalate into a full blown physical confrontation, the catechism is simply echoing Paul's advice to, as far as it depends upon you, to live at peace with everyone, and do not take revenge.
This peace that you're called to is much more than just an outward politeness in which you don't say the quiet part out loud, even as you seethe and simmer on the inside. No, the Bible calls you to a pervasive, permeating peace that radiates from the inside out; a peace that keeps not just your mouth and hands in check, but your thoughts, looks and gestures as well.
Dig Deeper
Today's passage ends with the famous line:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This passage often gets externalized, as if the best way to overcome bad guys is to shower them in good deeds. That may occasionally be the case, but I don't think that's what Paul means here. He wasn't referring to the evil reigning all around you, but the evil that seeks to plant its flag inside of you - your sinful nature (Sarx), who gains ground with every revenge filled thought and attitude you allow to fester. Overcome Sarx by flooding him out as you fill your mind with whatever is noble, right, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
The concept of revenge is a theme deeply woven into the fabric of scripture. In fact, the Bible draws to a close with Jesus promising to do the very thing that Paul here prohibits you from doing: Jesus will return with His settlement, meaning that He will repay everyone with exactly what they deserve, either good or bad.
Base the peace that you've been commanded to have by leaving room for God's wrath, for it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord."
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father who has promised to reward good and repay evil;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the strength to let go of your sinful instinct to desire revenge and instead reflect the goodness and forgiveness Jesus has shown you;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Revelation 8
