How To Overcome Evil

[1]  “How To Overcome Evil”

Romans 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

INTRODUCTION:           This chapter contains the ethics of Christianity. It stands in relation to Christianity, as the Sermon on the Mount, and is a sort of supplement to it. It is a perfect code of Christian requirements, and the higher elements of saintly conduct. If it could be transferred in its brightness and power to Christian professors, it would fill the world with its light and glory. I have never known but one perfect living embodiment of it, yet it is the mark at which we should aim-the life we should labour to live. The concluding paragraph is most sublime-the enemy is to be killed-the man saved. Now the text contains a great general principle, one of supreme importance.

Notice in the text.

I.            TWO PRINCIPLES.

              A.           Evil and good

                             1.           The existence of these requires no                            

                                           argument.

                                           i.            Sin is evil  -  Holiness good.

                                                          a.           All sin-thought, imagi­nation,          

                                                                        desire, purpose, deed.

                                                          b.           Holiness includes all good-

                                                                        graces, virtues, purposes and

                                                                        acts.

                                           ii.           Ignorance is evil  - Knowledge is good.

1 Timothy 1:13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

                                                          a.           Ignorance is darkness, night

                                                          b.           Knowledge is light, day.

                                           iii.          Error is evil   -  Truth is good.

James 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

                                                          a.           Error is false, crooked,

                                                                        perversion, etc.

                                           iv.          Selfishness is evil  -  Benevolence good

Proverbs 11:26  He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

                                                          a.           Selfishness, violation of the           

                                                                        great law - the second                    

                                                                        commandment.

Exodus 20:4  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

                                           v.           Hate is evil - Generosity and        

                                                          Love good

1 John 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

                                                         a.           Love, to pity, sympathize and

                                                                        help.

II.           THESE PRINCIPLES ARE DIRECT OPPOSITES

              A.           No Likeness, The Opposites

                             1.           Night and Day; Evil and Good; Satan and

                                           God; Hell and Heaven:

                             2.           They are in absolute conflict

                                           a.           In eternal conflict

              B.           The Con­flict Between The Two Is,

                             1.           Ancient.

                                           i.            In Heaven-in Eden.

                             2.           Persistent.

                                           i.            Ever since.

                             3.           Universal.

                                           i.            In all persons and places

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

                             4,           Still rampant.

                                           i.            We see it daily.

                                           ii.           The two elements are most visibly              

                                                          in conflict.

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

                             5.           Evil is often in the lie

                                           i.            In our hearts,

                                           ii.           Paganism-barbarism.

                                                        a.           Mother Nature

                                           iii.          All the curses socially the result,

III.         EVIL MAY BE OVERCOME

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

              A.           Evil Is Not Irresistible Or Invincible.

                             1.           Jesus in His own life overcame it.

                                           i.            His actions temptation of Satan,

                                                          a.           reviling

                             2.           It is overcome in the sinner's conversion.

                                           i.            Evil spirit exorcised

                                                          a.           Evil nature renewed

                                                          b.           Evil dominion overthrown

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

                             3.           It has been overcome by God's people.

                                           i.            Stephen, Paul,

                                                          a.           Martyrs

                             4.           It shall be totally overcome.

                                           i.            Light,

                                           ii.           Truth,

                                           iii.          Love

IV.         EVIL IS TO BE OVERCOME BY GOOD

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

              A.           This Is The Only Way

                             1.           The Certain way.

                                           i.            Not devil against devil

                                           ii.           Not sin against sin

                                           iii.          Not passion against passion

                                           iv.          Not vengeance against vengeance

                                                          a.           The evil must be overcome            

                                                                        by good.

                             2.           See it in Redemption

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

                                           i.            Satan the prince

                                                          a.           Sin the curse

                                                          b.           woe the doom.

                                           ii.           Jesus the good

                                                          a.           Incarnate love

                                                          b.           His grace the power

                                           iii.          He conquers by truth and love

                                                          a.           By tears

                                                          b.           With His precious blood

                                           iv.          See it in the Conversion of the soul.

                                                         a.           The good truth

                                                         b.           The good spirit

                                                          c.            The good grace.

                             4.           See it in the Separated life

Ephesians 4:21-24  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  (22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  (23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  (24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

                                           i.            All malice and hatred and envy     

                                                          destroyed.

                                           ii.           The good and renewed nature

                                                          rising in love and goodness.

5.               See it in the Conversion of the world.

i.                It must be converted-absolutely certain;

ii.               By love, by goodness,

iii.             The world's darkness

              a.           By light,

              b.           By messages of                

                             reconciliation

              c.            By the loving Christ

              d.           By the loving Spirit.

iv.          God's own method is to overcome              

              evil with good.

CONCLUSION:               We as Christians are in a battle, with the reward of souls for Christ.  Our text (v 20) says “…overcome evil with good.”   The one thing I want you to see is the word “overcome” is not an entirely passive word, it has “Go ye” within it, yet not with  a hammer, sickle and a sword.

              Our Sword is our King James Bible, and it is backed with our love Christ Himself and our love for the same souls He longs for us to reach.

              We must consider what we are, what we have become and above all consider how we are Glorifying God.  Our battle isn’t with God, His Son Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  Our battle is between our ears and our heart, and the devil himself. 

              Our heart remembers our first father old Satan and he is familiar.  It is like an old reformed drunk walking into a bar, familiar situations, and familiar smells.  All real friendly, come on back we love you.

              That is why we are warned to put on the WHOLE armour of God.

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Without His armour, all that familiarity is quite inviting.  Stay in His Word; then continue listening, growing in His wisdom. 

Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.                                      

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[1] adapted from “200 Sermon Outlines” Jabaez Burns, Kregel Publications, 1999, page 193