Attitudes That Overcome Evil Romans 12:21

Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” Attitudes That Overcome Evil

Adam Clark on Romans 12:21 “Be not overcome of evil” - “Do not, by giving place to evil, become precisely the same character which thou condemnest in another. Overcome evil with good - however frequently he may grieve and injure thee, always repay him with kindness; thy good-will, in the end, may overcome his evil” Attitudes That Overcome Evil

Attitudes we must have… Introduction There is a constant struggle between Good & Evil God & Satan - Genesis 3:15 Church & World - Romans 6:16; James 4:4 Flesh & Spirit - Galatians 5:17 Christians can overcome evil with good by following the teaching of Paul in Romans 12 Attitudes we must have… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

The Right Attitude Toward… The World vss. 1-2; 1 John 2:15, 16 Worldliness not just conforming to customs/styles Matthew 6:25-33; John 17:14-17 Worldliness is blindly conforming to the world while ignoring God’s will - Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 4:1-4 Behaving according to the course of this world Ephesians 2:1-2 Adorning like the world… Hairstyles - 1 Corinthians 11:6; 14, 15 Clothing… Clothing reflects what is in the heart - Proverbs 7:10; James 2:12 Clothing reflects a Godly character 1 Timothy 2:9, 10 - “Modest” cf. 1 Timothy 3:2 - “of good behaviour” The Right Attitude Toward… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array “Modest” - Gk: kosmios “orderly, well-arranged, decent, modest” (akin to kosmos, in its primary sense as “harmonious arrangement, adornment;”… is used in 1 Tim. 2:9 of the apparel with which Christian women are to adorn themselves; in 1 Tim. 3:2 (RV, “orderly;” AV, “of good behavior” ), of one of the qualifications essential for a bishop or overseer. “The well-ordering is not of dress and demeanor only, but of the inner life, uttering indeed and expressing itself in the outward conversation” - Vine Titus 2:3 Attitudes That Overcome Evil

The Right Attitude Toward… Ourselves vs. 3 Not wrong to measure ourselves by the scriptures As we “ought to think” not “giving no thought” “think soberly” It is wrong to be conceited - vs. 16 2 Corinthians 10:12; Romans 11:20 Laodiceans - Revelation 3:14-19 The Right Attitude Toward… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

The Right Attitude Toward… Service To The Lord Must Serve willingly… Within and with all our ability - vs. 4-8 Cheerfully - vs. 8, 12 Diligently (not slothful or lagging behind) - vs.11; cp. Titus 2:14 In leading or ruling - vs. 8 In prayer - vs. 12 In distributing to the saints - vs. 13 In hospitality - vs. 13 The “do I have to” attitude is the wrong attitude! The Right Attitude Toward… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

The Right Attitude Toward… One Another Must have love and affection - vss. 9, 10 Must honor and prefer one another - vs. 10 Must be impartial - vs. 16; cp. James 2:1-7 Be peaceful - vs. 18 The Right Attitude Toward… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

The Right Attitude Toward… Good and Evil Abhor what is evil - vs. 21; Isaiah 5:20-23; Proverbs 17:15 Cling to what is good - vss.17b, 21b Hebrews 2:1-3 The Right Attitude Toward… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

The Right Attitude Toward… Our Enemies Bless them - vs. 14; Matthew 5:44-48 Do not avenge - vss. 17, 19-21 Leave vengeance to the Lord - vs. 19 By the God ordained powers - Romans 13:1-5 In the final judgment - 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 The Right Attitude Toward… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

The Right Attitude Toward… The World Ourselves Service to the Lord One Another Good and Evil Our Enemies Review The Right Attitude Toward… Attitudes That Overcome Evil

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” - vs. 21 Conclusion Don’t let your attitude be conformed to this world Proper attitudes will overcome evil with good Remember the words of Paul… “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” - vs. 21 Attitudes That Overcome Evil