Lesson 157
Romans Chapter Twelve
Responsibilities in the Christian Life
Review: Rom
With verse 14 we discover
what our reaction is to be when faced with persecution.
Paul’s exhortations in this section relate to a believer’s reactions to the actions and emotions of others, whether Christians or not.
The hatred displayed in persecution usually evokes response in kind, but Paul commanded, Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
First lets find out what persecute means;
“to persecute” = diw,kw ; the word itself is a neutral one in its basic sense; to pursue, to run after; Used of a hunter pursuing game;
In the N.T. in Koine Greek, it also is used of pursuit with hostile intent; there is a range from verbal abuse/slander to social ostracism
There is a nuance of zealousness, an earnestness that is a part of the meaning.
If we are not now being persecuted, its not a part of our present experience, this verse is saying be prepared!
What does it mean to not curse them?
“Bless and curse not”
Word = katara,omai means to desire a persons
destruction/judgment; to experience the eternal wrath of God;
Could you not pray for that one who is persecuting you, that they will be convicted by the Gospel, believe it and therefore be delivered from the eternal wrath of God!
This is the thrust of Paul’s message here, Bless and curse not!
Let’s look at a passage that prescribes
what our reactions ought to be as we
face persecution, as
we are being wronged. 1 Pet. 3:9
If we find that we cannot “bless” the persecutor, the one who has wronged us, what would the next best thing be to do?
What cannot be referred to with any good sense, or consistency with Scripture:
#1 We
are not to justify or to cover wrong!
#2 It
does not mean we should overlook a wrong!
#3 It
does not mean we should not pursue justice.
#4 What
about responding to wrong treatment to correct slander, to defend your character? 2 Cor
#5 Anger may be a
needed reaction, necessary, appropriate.
12:15-16
Verses 15 and 16 are puzzling at first and appear to be out of place.
Verses 15 and 16 apply to our response, our reaction to situations that involve both believers and unbelievers.
Since we are a part of the body of Christ, we are to identify and participate in the sufferings and joys of fellow believers in Christ because their experiences greatly affect us:
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;
if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it (1 Cor.
But what does all this have to do with persecution?
Identifying with our persecutors enables us to forgive them and to desire to minister to them, to speak good words to them.
Revenge would rejoice over the weeping of our persecutor and would weep over his rejoicing. The only way we can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice is to genuinely seek their good (to bless).
In verse 16 we come to yet another somewhat puzzling statement.
Here Paul warns us of the danger of pride.
Crux I believe of his argument here is the last phrase.
Lit. Stop becoming [pres. imp of ginomai] or don’t make a habit of becoming wise, intelligent, in your own eyes.
Paul had just
used this same exhortation in
Other Scripture calls our attention to this same
warning; Prov. 26:12, 5, 16;
3:5-7
Our salvation and the gospel have nothing to do with human merit or works but everything to do with God's sovereign grace.
Verses 14-16 give us very clear instruction concerning our perspective, especially toward those who have unjustly persecuted us.
Being saved by grace means we have nothing for which to take credit or to be prideful.