Proper Vengeance

16 October 2022 AM – Romans 12:19 – Rom2022 – Scott Childs
Introduction: In the previous verses, the Apostle Paul addressed our reaction to those who mistreat us. He told us not to retaliate by returning evil for evil. Instead, we are to prepare an excellent response to aggression. Paul admitted that it is not always possible to live in peace, as some people are determined to agitate. However, we are not to do anything to aggravate the problem. We are to be peacemakers.
            Continuing on the same theme, Paul tells us what we ARE to do when people hurt us. Here is the right action to take. Here is God’s mind on the subject. Read Romans 12:19.
Transition: In this verse, Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives us three clear instructions regarding vengeance.
  1. We are NOT to avenge ourselves.
a.         Paul addressed his readers as “beloved”.
1)         In the opening chapter (Ro 1:7), he addressed this letter to “all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called saints”. If you are a Christian, God dearly loves you. He loves unbelievers as well, but He has a special love for us.
2)         During times of unfair, unjust, or cruel treatment, we must remember that God loves us. Though God does not approve of unjust things, He may allow them in our lives for our good. He sees beyond the pain to the purifying. (Romans 8:28) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.“
b.         To beloved believers, God says, “avenge not yourselves.”
1)         The word “avenge” means to retaliate, or to punish a person for a wrong done. It is payback. The idea is to take the law into one’s own hands.
2)         He is clearly speaking of personal vengeance. God is warning us, “Do not take personal vengeance!” Avenging evil ourselves is wrong. It is not our job. Why not?
3)         We are sinners ourselves. We do not know people’s hearts. Our injury or loss may tempt us to sinful anger, which hinders justice. Perhaps most of all, God has never given us the authority to avenge ourselves. This applies equally to big and small issues. Vengeance is not our job.
4)         We must not confuse biblical child discipline with vengeance. God has given parents authority to discipline their children. (Proverbs 19:18) “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Biblical child discipline is not for personal vengeance, because the child was irritating. It is God using the parent to help the child see that there are consequences for sin, and to point the child to God’s forgiveness and hope through the Gospel.
2.        Instead, we are to give place unto wrath.
a.         Note how “give place” is used in Scripture.
1)         We find these words first in (Luke 14:9) “And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.” Jesus taught that if you are invited to a banquet, do not seat yourself in the place reserved for the guest of honour. If you do, you will shamefully be asked to move to make room for another.
2)         Again, we find these words in (Ephesians 4:27) “Neither give place to the devil.” We are not to make room for the devil.
b.         Paul then applied these words to “wrath”.
1)         Wrath is a form of anger. Strong’s dictionary defines it as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind. It is an emotion of both humans and God. However, in humans it is usually sinful. James tells us, (James 1:20) “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” God’s wrath is never sinful. His wrath is always controlled, accurate and just.
2)         We must make room for wrath. This Greek literally says “the wrath”. It is speaking specifically of the wrath of God.
3)         Here is what he is saying, we must not avenge ourselves, BUT (alla) we must make room from the wrath of God. However, we must not give place to wrath in order that the offender might get greater punishment from God. We must never desire the harm of the offender. Never! Instead, we must leave it to God, because we recognise that we are incapable of a just judgment. Martin Lloyd Jones We must be concerned instead that God’s truth, justice, righteousness and glory be vindicated, not personal spite. That is not easy!
4)         If we avenge ourselves, we respond in the flesh, sin against God, distrust Him, and get in the way of His wrath.
3.        We must let God avenge all evil.
a.         Vengeance belongs to God alone.
1)         God is the only being qualified to avenge evil.
a)         He is the creator of all that exists. He is all-wise and all-knowing. The Psalmist prayed, (Psalms 69:5) “O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.“
b)         God alone is holy, righteous, just, and judicial. He always exercises “lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth” (Jer 9:24).
c)         Abraham called God the “Judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25). In Acts 10:42, He bears the name “Judge of quick and dead”. He is the “Judge of all” (Heb 12:23). “True and righteous are His judgments” (Rev 19:2). God is not cruel, but neither is He a pacifist.
2)         Even Jesus left all judgment to Father God. (1 Peter 2:23) “Who, when he (Christ) was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” So must we!
3)         Because God is holy and just, He must justly punish sinners for their sin. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;“
4)         What about the imprecatory Psalms? In those, the Psalmist is asking God to judge the wicked. Major imprecatory Psalms include Psalm 69 and Psalm 109. The Psalmist is not calling for his personal vengeance, but he is asking God to defend His name, holiness, justice, and glory.
5)         As difficult as it is to pray like that sincerely, it is the spirit of our text. That is to be our attitude toward our offenders and enemies.
6)         God sometimes uses men to perform His vengeance.
a)         God promised Abram in (Genesis 15:16) “But in the fourth generation they (his descendants) shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” When that time came, God justly commanded Joshua and Israel to destroy the evil people in Canaan. God commanded Saul to wipe out the Amalekites. God had Elijah kill the prophets of Baal. Etc. God used men to punish evil.
b)         God has given governments authority to punish crimes (Ro 13:1-2). We will look at that more closely another time.
b.         God will repay
1)         We are not to avenge ourselves, but we are to give room for God’s wrath, because vengeance belongs to God. It does not belong to us. God promises to repay those who do wrong.
2)         He will deal with injustice. Whether in this life, or on Judgment Day, or both, God gives us His word that He will repay evil done to His children.
3)         There is no need for us to try to avenge evil ourselves. We must wait on God and trust Him.
Conclusion: This morning we have learned that all vengeance belongs to God. We have no right to inflict vengeance on someone who has harmed us. That is God’s job. He alone is wise enough, holy enough, and just enough to avenge evil properly. If that person has broken the law, you may need to let the law handle it, but ultimately, God will handle it.
Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337