[1] “How To Overcome Evil”
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.
a. Ignorance is darkness, night
b. Knowledge is light, day.
iii. Error is evil - Truth is good.
a. Error is false, crooked,
perversion, etc.
iv. Selfishness is evil - Benevolence good
a. Selfishness, violation of the
great law - the second
commandment.
v. Hate is evil - Generosity and
Love good
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
4, Still rampant.
i. We see it daily.
ii. The two elements are most visibly
in conflict.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Without His armour, all that familiarity is quite inviting. Stay in His Word; then continue listening, growing in His wisdom.