In this society, we look for the "short cut" to success. Too often, people decide the result we seek justifies the methods we use. Too often, those who seek to be Christians seek "short cuts" to spiritual success. ("How can we be increasingly effective in evangelism? How can we become an effective congregation? How can we quickly produce wonderful families in the church who are an excellent contrast to the divorce and despair so frequently found in our society? How can we find a quick fix to troubling personal problem A and frustrating personal problem B?") Too often Christians decide the result we seek justifies the methods we use (we claim to seek a universal goal of God when we actually seek to address our own anxieties). If a solution takes "too long" it is a "bad solution."
Emphasize that we are a results-oriented society that wants and expects quick results. Illustrate that reality with everyday illustrations. Ask the class to contribute illustrations.
God's principles are demanding. Why? They demand we depend on God working. We anxiously say, "I do not see how that will work" because "we" do not see how "we" can make it work. "We" fail to understand it will work because of God's involvement. Coming to God begins with believing God exists and rewards those who come to Him (Hebrews 11:6). However, continuing with God requires we trust God to continue working--just as did Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. God promised the Christ (Genesis 12:3c; Galatians 3:16). God sent the Christ (Acts 2:36; 3:18-26). The Christ will continue his work until judgment (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
The point the teacher wishes to stress is our tendency to depend on the human and not the divine. The point is NOT we should not use our human abilities. The point is NOT that we need to obligate God to do as we plan. The point is that God is active. We want to work with God, not leave God out of our planning.
The difficult issue for most Christians is that God continues to work. Our questions usually focus on "how," "when," and "where." We seem to have the faith necessary to come to God down pat. However, the faith of being a Christian because we walk with God needs work. Why? That faith demands we depend on God and not self. As long as there is something we can do, we feel comfortable. When we are either limited in what we can do or we cannot do anything to "fix it," we quickly feel very uncomfortable.
We live in a highly scientific society, in an age when scientific advances solve many problems and dilemmas. While that is not bad, if we are not careful, we depend on ourselves and diminish God to an inactive role.
In the first eleven chapters of Romans, Paul discussed the extremely tense situation between the Jewish Christians and gentile Christians as God extended salvation to people. The first eleven chapters of Romans are conceptual. With chapter 12, Paul began making applications, often to specific situations. The challenge was transformation. The objective was for people to become a part of the one body in Christ where each person uses his/her gifts. The result was becoming a different person.
The first 11 chapters are devoted to how God saves with an emphasis to Jewish Christians on the fact that God always intended to save non-Jewish people. From Romans 12 forward, Paul stressed what it meant to be saved by making application of Christian values to their situation.
Consider the three Christian behaviors in our text.
1. The Christian does not engage in "pay back." Instead of vengeance, the Christian acts like his/her God and Savior. He/she gives kindness in return for evil received. Evil received never justifies evil returned.
Christians refuse to yield to the principle of vengeance as guide to human behavior or conduct in human activities. It is amazing how often humans feel justified in taking vengeance.
2. They give careful, thoughtful consideration to right conduct even in the eyes of people who do not believe in God. That one is really tough when you live "in a fish bowl" and deal with unethical people!
Christians wish to be seen as honorable even by people without honor.
3. If peace does not exist between you and someone else, it will not be because of the way you act or speak. If peace does not exist, it will be because peace is not wanted by the other person.
Christians are devoted to peace even among people who do not want peace.
Why? The Christian looks at people as valuable. Why? The Christian does so because God does so. The Christian never forgets he/she is a Christian because of what God did for us on Jesus' cross.
Christians understand the value of wicked people by examining the value God placed on them when they were among the wicked.
The responsibility of how Christians treat their enemies always has been a difficult, demanding problem. It is not a hypothetical problem! From the beginning, Christians had enemies. The Jewish people who opposed Jesus (not all Jewish people opposed Jesus) also opposed the apostles [Acts 4:1-22]. Many idol worshippers (the majority in the first century world) resented Christians [Acts 19:23-41]. Opposition from the Roman government increased in the late first century. In Revelation, the Christians in Asia Minor thought they were doomed.
It is essential that Christians understand the problem always has been difficult and never has been hypothetical. The principle seemed as unrealistic in the first century world as it seems in today's world. The opposition against Christians in the first century world was more deadly and costly than it is now in America. Christians always will have enemies. Satan is never inactive. Something "is not wrong" because Christianity is opposed.
In this matter, it is demanding to belong to a God Who endured so much rejection and a Savior who was crucified. It is difficult to read Jesus' teaching on reacting to opposition in Matthew 5:43-48, or to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16), or show respect to rulers who do not know God (1 Peter 2:13-17), or show respect for Christians who disagree with your Christian practices (Romans 14).
The scriptures cited should verify there always has been opposition to trusting Jesus Christ. God does not call us to a life that "fits in" with an evil world. God and Jesus are examples of enduring the afflictions of evil.
The collective New Testament teaching to Christians living in a hostile age emphasized this:
The point in these three principles: Christians seek to win a wicked world through the influence of godly behavior. To think we can conquer a wicked world and force it to do good is an unrealistic dream. If people devoted to godliness resort to wicked behavior, godliness disappears.
1. Christians are not dangerous and pose a physical threat to no one.
2. Christians commit themselves to change through the influence of godly behavior (read 1 Peter 3:13-18).
3. Christians follow Jesus' example.
A part of faith is believing God acts and wins through the sacrifices of those devoted to Him and His values.
Faith involves committing ourselves to God even when we do not see how God is working in us.
For Thought and Discussion
We often look for short cuts.
We too often decide the result justifies the methods we use.
They are demanding because they require us to depend on God working.
We must believe God exists and rewards those who come to Him.
It requires we trust God.
He will continue his work until judgment.
The difficult issue is to believe that God continues to work.
He discusses the extremely tense situation between Jewish Christians and gentile Christians as God extended salvation to people.
He begins to make application, often to specific situations.
The challenge: transformation. The objective: For people to become a part of Christ's body and use their gifts. The result: becoming a different person.
A part is believing God acts and wins through the sacrifices of those devoted to Him and His values.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 5