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Romans 12:14-21
Through the blood of His cross, the Lord has made peace for those who are willing to give up their enmity
against God (Col 1:20). Through faith, believers have cleansed themselves from dishonor, to be vessels of
honor, sanctified and useful for the Master (2 Tim 2:20-21).
Now the Master invites these sanctified ones to participate in His work to reconcile others to Himself. And
for that purpose, the Lord pours into each vessel of honor a measure of faith a portion of His graces, the
charismata, distributed by His Spirit, to be used in His work of reconciliation.
Within the graces of the Spirit lies the power to build to build up individual members of the Body of
Christ, in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior (2 Pet 3:18); and to build up the Body of Christ
collectively, as members are added to the church (Eph 4:16).
But the power to build, which lies within the graces given, will remain inactive locked up within the
believer unless and until it is activated. What is it that activates that power? Love.
Now, God is Love; He is always ready and willing to love, giving to men what it is that they need, for their
good. But Gods love is not natural, to men, for it is a selfless love. Men are born, loving themselves; they
are completely selfish. So those who have been born again, who become the Lords, must learn that love,
from Him; and He teaches it to them, enlightening them through His Spirit, within them.
But even as believers learn what true love is, it doesnt mean that they then automatically love. Love is a
choice. Choosing to love is kind of like throwing a light-switch, for the believer. A light switch can be
either on, or off; it cant be both.
When a light switch is on, electricity is flowing, and the light is shining. Thats when the believer chooses
to love, and abides in love. The graces of the Spirit are then flowing through that life; love is actively
working through that member of the Body, loving others, edifying them, and the Body is built up, both
individually and collectively.
But what about if the believer chooses not to love? Then the light switch is off; theres no electricity, no
light. The power of the graces, that has been given to the believer, lies dormant; the light of the glory of
God is not seen. The graces in that believer cannot be used then, to express Gods love to others, for their
edification; because that believer has chosen the love of himself, over the love of others.
Paul cannot induce the believers in Rome or anywhere else to love. But he can set before believers the
example of love as seen through his own ministry.
Look back at verse 8. Love is liberal, sincere; it is freely, lavishly given, without expectation of a return.
And Love is diligent; it labors with zeal, in the service of others. And Love is cheerful; it takes joy in the
object of its affection, and in the good it is working for the loved one (Rm 12:8). That was how Paul loved,
through his ministry; and the grace of God worked through Paul mightily (Col 1:29).
Based on his own example, Paul then exhorted the believers to manifest love, in their own lives love for
others. Now, Paul did not intend to make some kind of exhaustive list, here; a set of rules, by which
believers were to live. Instead, Paul was giving the believers a sampling of what their love should look
like. It is the Spirit who must show each believer individually, how to love, within each moment of their
life.

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As we saw last time, Paul introduces this section of his letter under the heading, in verse 9, of Love
without hypocrisy or Genuine Love; this is what true love is.
We noted that Paul began with the believer himself; that love begins with his sanctification, by which he
leaves behind this world, which is filled with the love of self, and clings to his Lord, allowing the Lord to
love through him. For expressing the love of God for others requires the believer to submit to the Lord, so
that Gods love flows through the believer.
We left off last time in the midst of Pauls description of what the love of God looks like, among members
of the Body of Christ; the brethren, who love one another with brotherly love, which is the love between
members of the same family; Gods family.
This is love that is willing to put others first; it is willing to submit to others members, as the Lord shows.
This love serves others with strength, and a whole heart, and helps others in their afflictions, always with its
eyes on the goal that is shared by the whole family; their certain hope of glory. And this love is willing to
share, as well as to serve, recognizing the Lords ownership of themselves and of all that they possess.
Well continue now with Pauls exhortation of love. Ill reread the section from last time together with
what we will be studying today, as they are connected.
[Read Romans 12:9-21]
So Paul continues to show what love looks like among believers the brethren (v. 10-16). Then he moves
on to loving unbelievers; those outside the family of God (v. 17-21).
Lets return to verse 14.
v. 14 Now, if we were to read this verse isolated from its context, we would be inclined to think that Paul
was speaking about how believers are to respond to unbelievers who are persecuting them.
That is the way that this Greek word translated persecution here is used in other passages of the NT; it
speaks of pursuing with repeated acts of enmity. Who pursues believers with repeated acts of enmity?
Those who are their enemies; we would tend to think that must mean unbelievers.
But there are a couple of reasons to suggest that Paul is actually talking about believers who are going after
believers, here. First of all, Paul has been exclusively speaking about the love of believers for other
members of the Body, in this passage, and he will continue to do so through verse 16. A statement about
how to treat unbelievers here would be out of context, which would be unusual, with Pauls organized
mind.
Secondly, Paul goes on to discuss the enmity of unbelievers against believers in verses 17-21, and how to
respond, in love; that would make Pauls statement here in verse 14 redundant. That, too, would be
unusual, with these passages back-to-back.
So if we assume that Paul is indeed talking about how believers are to respond when other believers are
attacking them, just what does he mean by that? After all, were all members of the same Body; were all
part of the family of God; were not enemies; were brothers.

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Have you every known siblings who didnt get along? Who refused to love one another, even though they
belonged to the same family? Usually, its a battle of the wills; one will against the other. And when that
happens, there is a refusal to love; and enmity can set in; and bitterness; rivalry, and division. These come
along, and fill in the vacuum, where love should have been.
That can happen in Gods family, as well. And we see some evidence of it, in Pauls letters. Turn to First
Corinthians chapter 1. The assembly is Corinth was filled with division; all of those selfish wills,
contending against one another. And Paul wasted no time in this letter, admonishing them for their lack of
love.
[First Corinthians 1:4-13]
v. 4-6 The testimony of Christ was confirmed in them through the receiving of the Holy Spirit.
v. 7 The graces of the Spirit, the charismata. The revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes to
catch up His Bride (1 Th 4:17).
v. 8 The Lord confirms the believer to the end their glorification, which is their completion.
v. 9 Paul leaves off on the note of fellowship, here; unity, with the Son of God, Jesus, our Lord; and
therefore, unity with one another. This stands in sharp contrast to what Paul says next.
v. 10 The emphasis here is on the disunity of the assembly in Corinth; they do not speak the same thing,
which is to say they are arguing; they are divided, because they refuse to submit to the will of their Lord.
Instead, they have their own thoughts, their own opinions about things. They have dissociated themselves
from the fellowship, from the unity of the Spirit through their lack of love, for one another.
Paul continues.
v. 11-13 The Corinthian believers allowed themselves to become divided over their various teachers. They
held the teaching of one man as superior to another. Some even attempted to trump others in the assembly
by naming Christ as their teacher. This was causing the members of the assembly to quarrel.
Paul is making the point that all believers are disciples of Christ; that He is both the Teacher, and the One
the teaching is about. This doesnt leave any room for division or for one to lord it over another.
Turn now to chapter 3, as Paul continues in this admonishment of the assembly.
[First Corinthians 3:1-4]
v. 1 Spiritual means of the Spirit. Carnal in the Greek literally means of the flesh; fleshly. A
Babe is one with no understanding; an unenlightened one. That would be an unbeliever. What Paul is
suggesting here is that those in the assembly in Corinth are acting like men who are still in the flesh, who
are devoid of understanding; they are acting like unbelievers.
v. 2 Paul is questioning whether they have even genuinely taken in the pure milk of the word (1 Pet 2:2);
this refers to the elemental truths of the gospel.

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v. 3-4 Paul is challenging them here do they really believe? Envy, strife, and divisions mark the conduct
of men in the flesh; but as you can see, believers who mind the things of the flesh (Rm 8:5) can conduct
themselves the same way.
We move on to chapter 6. Paul was addressing the issue of believers filing legal suits against one another
theyre pursuing one another in court more enmity.
[First Corinthians 6:1-8]
v. 1 Paul is speaking of bringing a fellow member of the Body of Christ before the civil authorities, to
settle an issue, instead of resolving it within the local assembly. Thats an issue for our day!
v. 2-4 Paul is bringing out that the saints members of the Body of Christ are being trained to rule and
reign with Christ (Rev 5:10). They will participate in the judgment at the end of the age (Rev 20:4).
With Christ, they will judge over the greatest matters in the universe. Are they not therefore qualified to
judge over relatively trivial matters, such as the issues of this life more so than unbelievers those least
esteemed by the church? Of course they are.
v. 5-6 You can just hear Pauls sense of shock and horror, at what they are doing. They are exposing their
lack of love for one another, exposing their enmity, in a public setting, before unbelievers, for all to see.
They are so consumed with their own self-interest that they have no thought for what this is doing to their
witness for the Lord whom they claim to love and serve. No thought! Or at least, no care.
Listen to Pauls tone: Is there not a wise man among you not even one? Of course there must be, if
there are any genuine believers, in Corinth. In Christ, every member of the Body has wisdom from God (1
Cor 1:30).
But those in Corinth are not interested in receiving a wise and righteous judgment; they are interested in
getting what they can out of their brother, for their own selfish gain or satisfaction. And to obtain that
objective, they seek out a ruling from this world system.
v. 7-8 This is not just a passing disagreement; they are prosecuting one another, in a court of Law;
pursuing one another with repeated acts of enmity. Such conduct should not exist, in the Body of Christ;
but where there is a lack of love, the potential is there.
Now turn to Galatians chapter 5. The assemblies in Galatia had a fairly large population of believing Jews,
as well as Gentiles. False teachers were trying to put the believers under the bondage of the Law. Paul
explained to the Galatian believers that they were free from the Law but not free to do as they pleased.
They must not use their liberty as license to sin, but instead, should through love, serve one another.
[Galatians 5:13-15] This reflects the dynamic between the believing Jews and Gentiles in the assemblies.
If they will not serve one another in love, what will they be inclined to do? To conduct themselves as they
always have, as Jews and Gentiles groups which have a long history of enmity against one another.
The image that Paul is bringing in here is that of wild animals, savagely attacking and even killing one
another. They operate out of base instinct, for self-promotion and self-preservation. And that always
comes at the expense of others in this case, their own brothers.
[Return to Romans 12]

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It is likely that the word translated persecution came to Pauls mind based on what he had just said the
previous verse. Paul spoke of the Christ One being given to hospitality. The word given, which means
pursue, is the same Greek word in verse 14 translated persecute. Believers are to pursue hospitality
in the positive sense of the word and they are to bless another believer who pursues them, in enmity
in the negative sense of the word.
Certainly Pauls choice of this word persecute or pursue is unique here, in describing the action
believer against believer. But it well-reflects the shocking concept of one who has experienced the love of
God in Christ, who has been enlightened to the love of God through the Spirit, and who has been placed in
a family of love, but who allows in themselves a lack of love, for one of the members of the Body, which is
manifested in enmity against that member; repeated acts of enmity.
We can see that, as in Galatia, this would have been an issue in any of the early assemblies, where there
were believing Jews and Gentiles, who were at enmity in their former manner of life (Eph 2:16); and Paul
may well have been addressing the Jewish-Gentile issue specifically here, with the assemblies in Rome.
But wherever there are differences between people, there is the potential for one to pursue another, in
enmity.
So what is the afflicted believer to do? Paul says, he is not to curse his attacker; that is, he is not to pray
that God would destroy his attacker. Why not? Because thats not what Love would do. His attacker is his
brother; he is still part of his loving family, even if he is not conducting himself in love.
So what is the afflicted believer to do, instead? Move away? Avoid his attacker? Try to ignore the
situation? No; Paul says, the believer is to bless his attacker; that is, to pray Gods blessing, upon him.
Now that would take love and forgiveness, of the attacker. You cant genuinely pray for blessing on
someone you havent forgiven.
Why should the believer pray that a brother who is attacking him be blessed? Because then the afflicted
believer can get outside of himself and the situation, and begin to see what the Lords mind is, on the
matter.
Perhaps this believer can even become part of what the Lord uses to reach this erring brother, to cause him
to see his enmity, his lack of love, as he sees Love extended to him, through the very brother he is hurting.
And even if that never happens, the afflicted believer grows in his Lord, and provides a powerful witness to
all of his other brothers, of how love never fails; His love endures forever.
v. 15 Paul is speaking here of the members of the Body of Christ; what they are to do, for one another.
Paul said to the assembly in Corinth, If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one
member is honored, all the members rejoice with it (1 Cor 12:26).
This is how the members of the Body of Christ are to care for one another; the same care, for every
member, because were one Body. Its a matter of being genuinely glad for the accomplishments or
circumstances of another believer, and not comparing them to our own, or resenting them.
And it is entering into the sorrows of others, with real compassion, understanding that part of us is hurting.
In this way, the joys of each member are multiplied throughout the Body of Christ; and the sorrows of each
member are divided; and then the Body thrives.

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v. 16 This is Pauls last exhortation to love, among the members of the Body of Christ, and it has to do
with the mind; the believers mindset; how they think. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he; if he chooses
to have the mind of Christ, which is the mind of the Spirit, he will walk in the Spirit, and love will govern
all of his actions; he will live his righteousness.
But Paul is not speaking here just of believers having the mind of Christ. Notice exactly what Paul says:
Be of the same mind toward one another. The idea is to have the same mind, the mind of Christ, toward
every member of the Body of Christ; that is, to be impartial. We are to have the same regard and esteem
for every believer; to recognize their value, as our Lord does.
We can see where this exhortation would have hit its mark, in the assemblies in Rome, with their Jewish
and Gentile members, who tended to view the other group as lesser than themselves; but this tendency
hasnt changed in our day; just the groups!
Earlier in this letter, Paul wrote that there is no partiality with God, speaking of His judgment (Rm 2:11);
but there is no partiality in His love, either. We are all different, but He loves us all the same completely.
That is the love that we are to have for one another; born of the mindset that sees differences, not as the
grounds to treat a brother as inferior, but as opportunities to appreciate that which is unique.
Believers are not all the same, but they are all the equal of one another each one has the same value to
God, as one of His sons; no believer is superior to another. And it is in the recognition of this equality, in
the impartial regard we have for one another, that unity is promoted. We are all equal parts of a greater
whole of the Body of Christ.
In order to cultivate this mindset of impartiality, Paul exhorts the brethren not to set their minds on high
things. Now, Paul had recently written that the believers were not to think more highly of themselves than
they ought to think (Rm 12:3), meaning that they were not to have an inflated image of themselves, but
were instead to have the right estimation of themselves Gods estimation.
This is a related idea, in this case, pertaining to the tendency to view one another with partiality. If the
members of the Body view each other based on how things appear on each others status, or
accomplishments, or education, or wealth or even on the abilities that God has graced them with they
will be inclined to include some and exclude others; and that can cause division within the Body. Paul is
saying, Love does not do that.
Instead, believers are to associate with the humble. Now, this doesnt mean hang out with those who are
socially humble; that is, the poor; the idea here is not low on the social scale, but a lowly attitude.
The word associate here means to be led by, or guided. Believers are to be guided by humility of mind.
What is a humble mind? It is a mind that is submitted to the Lord (Phil 2:5-8).
In this context, the idea is that in lowliness of mind, believers are to esteem others better than themselves
(Phil 2:3); they are to see the value of each other, by taking the Lords perspective. And then, they will have
the right estimation of their brethren.
To this, Paul adds, Do not be wise in your own opinion. Paul has already voiced this to the Gentile
believers, regarding Gods continuing plans for the nation Israel (Rm 11:25), cautioning them to have the
mind of God, regarding Israel. Now, Paul expresses it to the assemblies at large.

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Do not be wise in your own opinion; Love is not puffed up with its own self-importance. Love realizes the
only opinion that counts is the Lords, and that any other opinion represents high-mindedness; arrogance.
Would one that is wise in his own opinion have a humble mind? Hardly; pride and humility dont mix. So
being wise in ones own opinion creates intractability, in the believer; they know; so they are stubborn,
willful, unteachable and inflexible, to the Lords leading. And they have opinions about everyone, which
makes them difficult to work with for anyone.
Paul now considers genuine love which meets the needs of others, outside of the Body of Christ of
unbelievers.
v. 17-19 Here Paul begins to speak of unbelievers. Because unbelievers are part of the world system,
which lies in the evil one (1 Jn 5:19), their deeds are evil. Sometimes their evil deeds simply happen to
affect members of the Body of Christ, who are also in the world, though they are not of it.
But at other times, the evil is actively directed against Christ Ones; believers suffer persecution at the hands
of unregenerate men, who are at enmity with God, and His Christ. Jesus told His disciples to expect this:
If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (Jn 15:20).
So what are believers to do, when the evil deeds of men affects them whether intended or unintended?
Paul says, believers are not to answer in kind: Repay no one evil for evil.
The judgment of this world system, and those who are of it, is not under the authority of the Christ One, but
of Christ: all judgment has been committed to Him, by the Father (Jn 5:26-27).
This is what Paul means when he says, the believer is to give place to wrath; he is to leave judgment to
the Lord, to execute His wrath, which He will do with a just retribution; giving back to each person what he
has stored up for himself (Rm 2:5-6).
Believers are not to avenge themselves, repaying evil for evil. But what about, an eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth? This was never intended to be applied by individuals; it was a standard of the Law of
Moses for the collective society, to be enforced by their judges, which was intended to restrain the evil in
society. It pertains to civil justice; not personal revenge.
Instead of repaying evil for evil, what is the Christ One to repay evil with? Paul says that the Christ One is
to have regard for good things in the sight of all men. The Christ One is to repay evil with good. The
idea is to demonstratively express goodness in response to the evil done to us, which provides a potent
testimony to the Lord. This action of love can then be witnessed by others, on the outside; Light, shining in
the darkness, which draws men in.
What Paul says in verse 18 hinges upon this. Peace is always two-way; both parties must agree, in order to
have peace. Unregenerate men may refuse to be at peace, with a Christ One; they may actively seek
conflict with him.
But Paul is saying, as a Christ One, do not generate conflict, nor perpetuate conflict, nor be resigned, about
conflict; actively seek peace. How does the believer do this? By loving their enemies, which is what Paul
speaks of next.

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v. 20 Therefore we see this is connected to what was said previously. We are not to repay evil for evil,
but to openly return good, for the evil done to us, by unbelievers. We are to leave their judgment to the
Lord, who will surely repay them for every wrong they have done, including the one against us.
And therefore because of this this is what Paul exhorts believers to do.
This is a quote from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT. It is from Proverbs, a book of wisdom
(Prov 25:21-22). In the Hebrew, the proverb specifically mentions giving bread and water to your enemy;
the Septuagint generalizes this, as giving food and drink.
The proverb is certainly meant in a general sense; the idea is to provide the necessities in life; to give your
enemy whatever it is that he needs. And who would know, what he needs? The Lord would know; so it
must be done in submission to the Lord, under His direction.
What will be the result of doing this, according to the proverb? You will heap coals of fire on his head.
Now, clearly, this is not meant literally; meeting the needs of your enemy does not result in hot charcoals
being piled up on your enemys head. It is figurative; but what is its meaning?
Coals of fire would, of course, be searing hot. If placed on the head, would they kill a person? No; they
would burn, and cause agonizing pain. And of course, a person would seek relief from that pain; it would
spur him into action, to alleviate the cause of his suffering. Hed want to get out from under those coals.
When the evil doing of an enemy is repaid with loving acts of kindness, its as if coals of fire are burning
him; not on the top of his head, but in his conscience. His conscience bears witness against him, for the evil
he has done, and displays it to him in stark contrast to the good that was done to him, in return. His
thoughts accuse him (Rm 2:15).
And that is painful; it serves to torment the man. It creates the possibility that the man will have a change
of heart; that he will repent of his evil actions, and desire forgiveness. He is seeking relief from his burning
conscience; and in so seeking, he may actually find the Lord, as the situation gives him the right estimation
of himself as a sinner, who needs to be saved.
There was an ancient Egyptian custom in which a person who wanted to show public contrition carried a
pan of burning coals on his head. The coals represented the burning pain of his shame and guilt. This was
clearly a demonstrative, symbolic action; but Paul is calling forth a similar idea from the proverbs, to
reflect the idea of an enemy being convicted of their sin and repenting as a result of the actions of Love.
Therefore it is because unbelievers will receive wrath in the day of wrath because God must judge them
with His retributive justice that Paul exhorts believers to do this to extend love to them, in return for
their evil with the hope that they will repent and be saved from the wrath to come.
Paul now concludes these thoughts concerning unbelievers.
v. 21 How would we be overcome by evil? By trying to repay evil for the evil done to us. Thats what the
world does; it punishes its enemies; it hurts them back.
If we operate according to the ways of the world, we will get the worlds results. In lashing out at our
enemies, in attempting to take revenge, we will perpetuate hatred; animosity; division; enmity.

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There will be no witness for our Lord, and no possibility of the one at enmity with us repenting at least,
not through anything we have done. And we will fail to love; to grow in grace; the evil will have overcome
us; for we have chosen to allow it to prevail.
But if instead we repay the evil done to us with good things if we are kind to our enemies in return, if we
meet their needs as the Lord directs us then instead, evil will be overcome with good the Lords
goodness the Lords love.
Love is the greatest power in the universe, because love endures forever (1 Cor 13:13). Love alone has the
might to prevail over the evil in this world.
But love is a choice. And when we trust in our Lord, and make the choice to love our enemy, we will have
the victory; certainly, within ourselves; and that victory may even benefit others.
The Christ One is known in the Scriptures as he who overcomes (Rev 2-3). The Christ One has
overcome the world for himself, through faith (1 Jn 5:4-5); he has the victory, through Jesus. And the
Christ One has the potential to extend that victory to others if he will choose to love.
Reading: Rm 13; 1 Pet 2:13-17; Mt 22:15-22