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Pastor's Blog August 19, 2021
"View of God in Romans XXIV"
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Have you ever been so angry you contemplated taking revenge on someone? Anger is a common human emotion. And while feelings can be difficult to experience due to their volatile nature, feelings are not in themselves something bad or morally wrong. But people have to deal with situations every day that can potentially upset them, and Christians especially wonder what the best way is to respond. Paul has some advice about what the Christian response is in those situations, and his advice is based on how God himself responds to those situations.
In Romans 12:19, Paul says, "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord" (NASB). There are two things Paul says about an angry response in this passage: 1) we need to make room for God's wrath rather than taking our own revenge, and 2) God will settle the issue because vengeance is his prerogative. Paul clarifies in verse 20 that the correct action on our part is to provide for the needs of our enemies if we see them in need or if they ask help from us. But Paul's clarification doesn't really tell us how to make room for God's wrath or why vengeance belongs to God alone.
The answer might be found in verse 21: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (NASB). In verse 19, the expression "leave room" is literally "give a place" in Greek. Paul is saying that we need to let God's wrath work in difficult situations. And if you recall what is Paul's definition of God's wrath from Romans 1 - 3, it is God showing his goodness by giving people who prefer sin what they want (Romans 1), while also providing a solution for sin to those people who prefer God (Romans 3). God is not overcome by anger at us; instead, God overcomes everything that separates us from him by means of his goodness - which is probably why Paul encourages us to overcome evil with good.
Friends, we can rely on God's justice instead of having to take vengeance into our own hands. I encourage you to trust in the God who pours out his goodness on us, respects our freedom, and continually works for our salvation.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
