Chico Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“Abhorring and avoiding the Evil
Being stuck to and embracing the Good”
Basic Outline of Romans
I. Receive the gift of righteousness
II. Apply the Gift of Righteousness
III. Place of Israel in the God’s Plan of Salvation
IV. Live the Gift of Righteousness
A. Dedicate fully your body and soul to God’s service
B. Think fittingly and serve faithfully in the body. 12:3-8
C. Love genuinely
The practical application of the gift of righteousness in real life begins with our passion for right relationship with God – dedicate our bodies and souls. It moves to a proper view of ourselves in relation to the rest of the body of Christ. Don‘t think more highly or lowly but with sober judgment or perception that views ourselves as God sees us. The next natural result of a transformed spirit and soul concerns our relationship with people. Paul begins this section with kind of a title phrase. There really is no verb to start just “The Unhypocritical love” followed by a string of participles (‘ing’ words) detailing the characteristics of this genuine love.
“The Unhypocritical love”
Our love for one another is to be genuine. Peter calls those whose heart has been purified by the Holy Spirit to genuinely love to actually fervently love one another from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22). John encouraged his readers to genuinely love people.
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:18
This love is a character driven response to people.
Foundational love is a divinely motivated decision to persistently pursue meaningful connection
evidenced by selfless care and sacrificial service that significantly touches or impacts the one being loved.
Remember! Foundational love is character driven not conduct driven.
All the other aspects of love struggle when the conduct of the one being loved crashes.
Since this love springs from the character of the one loving, the conduct of others cannot deter it.
That is why God can say, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
If we experience problems loving others, the problem is within us not them.
We have failed to access the inexhaustible God-given resources of His unconditional love.
Our English translations turn these phrases into commands for the sake of understanding but a literal look at the passage would look something like this. The unhypocritical love that God has shed abroad in the heart flourishes as it intersects relationships.
The genuine love touches others by… (Characteristics described over the next 3 chapters)
• Continually abhorring the evil
• Continually being glued to the good
• Continually outdoing one another in the honor
• Continually boiling in the Spirit in diligence not laziness
• Continually serving in the Lord
• Continually rejoicing in the hope
• Continually enduring in the affliction
• Continually persevering in the prayer
• Continually partnering in the needs of the saints
• Continually pursuing the hospitality (love of strangers)
• Speak well of and don’t curse the ones persecuting you
• To rejoice with the rejoicing
• To cry with the crying
• Continually thinking the same not feeling self-important toward one another
• Continually being associated with the humble
• Don’t become wise in your own estimation
• Never giving back bad for bad to anyone
• Respecting what is good before everyone
• Being at peace everyone if within your power
• Not taking personal revenge but leave room for God to work
• Feed your enemy if he is hungry
• Water your enemy if he is thirsty
• Don’t be conquered by evil.
• Be a conqueror in the good.
• Be subject to authorities
• Owe nothing to anyone except love
• Accept don’t judge the weak in faith
• Bear the weakness of the weak
• Seek to please one another
• Accept one another as Christ has accepted you.
1. “Continually abhorring evil”
The first visible symptom of unhypocritical love has to do with our response to evil.
“Evil” = That which is toilsome, painful, grievous, worthless, wicked, bad, degenerate, evil-intentioned, sick, diseased, malignant, vicious whether in thought or deed.
Paul’s refers to things in the moral as well as the physical realms. The primary application in this context probably has to do with things that damage relationships. Anything contrary to God’s righteous standard would be considered evil.
Hurtful or grievous words, attitudes, actions, body language, neglect, hurtful things, refusal to meet basic needs.
But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17
Demons are called “evil” spirits. This is the adjective associated most with the nature of fallen angels, demons. Their chief flaw was proud rebellions against the perfect Most High God.
Our culture today not only tolerates evil but even embraces it. We overlook, tolerate and even embrace things that God hates.
Vice (or sin) is a monster of such frightful mien
That to be hated needs but to be seen.
But seen too often familiar with his face
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
English poet Ben Johnson
How does God feel?
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Col. 3:5-8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves one who pursues righteousness. Pro15:8-9
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; assuredly, he will not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15
Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, and a false scale is not good. Proverbs 20:23
He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9
There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19
How does genuine love respond or react to “evil things”?
“abhorring” = a strong word meaning to shudder with repulsion, to have a strong dislike for someone or something, to hate or despise, loathe.
What makes you shudder? How many attitudes or actions or thoughts have we allowed to remain in our own life that we should be abhorring?
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink… Isaiah 5:20-22
"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate. Proverbs 8:13
Jesus taught the disciples to pray not to be lead into temptation but be delivered from “evil.” Deliver us from their things that are stressful, cancerous, and worthless and damage or prevent meaningful connection with people. I would guess that such a desire was what Jabez had in mind when he asked God to be kept from evil.
Jesus died so that we might be delivered from the destructive evil of this age.
who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, Galatians 1:4
make the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephes. 5:16
Genuine love despises anything that brings hurt to others and tries to avoid it.
A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naive proceed and pay the penalty. Proverbs 27:12
Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on. Proverbs 4:14-15
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Titus 3:9
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thes. 5:21-22
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 1 Cor. 6:18
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Cor. 10:14
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Tim. 6:10-12
Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Tim. 2:22
True love abhors and avoids anything that becomes troublesome to our unity in Christ whether in church or family or marriage or friendships. We should abhor anything that damages our relationships. True love waits because failure to wait damages both body and soul and defiles the spirit. The heart transformed by the Love of God longs to release healing love to people and shudders at whatever blocks that release or brings damage to people and relationships. Everything evil that damages community should cause an inner repulsion. The problem is that the flesh thrives on contention and strife.
If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. James 3:14-16
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. James 4:1-2
Just as there are numerous types of cancer that ravage the physical body, there are numerous manifestations of evil malignancies that, left untreated, desolate the body of Christ. Just as the invasion of cancer in a family member brings devastations to the whole family, so the intrusion of evil attitudes, words and actions affect the entire body of Christ. We live in a culture of broken relationships. No relationship has escaped the affects of evil in our world. Ask God to enable you to see the things that hurt community as He sees it.
Don’t allow your heart to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hurtful words aren’t funny. Broken relationships aren’t funny. Betrayal, abuse, pride, dissension, strife, and dishonor aren’t’ funny. They are abhorrent to God and genuine love continually and actively abhors and avoids anything that is injurious to people.
Application -- Take a look inside
Check your ATTITUDES – jealousy, bitterness, competition, anger, selfish ambition, pride, selfishness or self-centeredness, envy, fear, malice, ungratefulness.
Check your THOUGHTS – ill will, I am better, you are inferior, dishonoring thoughts, unrealistic expectations, I don’t need you, you are no use to me, you are boring, curse by your thoughts (I wish you would drop dead! You’ll never amount to anything!). Vengeful thoughts.
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him. Proverbs 24:17-18
Check your WORDS – death words and life words, words that cut and hurt.
Let no unwholesome (worthless, evil, corrupt) word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephes. 4:29
Check your ACTIONS – physical and/or verbal abuse, ultimatums, angry tone of voice, demeaning body language, rebellion, lying, sexual immorality, pornography, bad company, listening to evil reports, gossip or passing on evil reports, vengeful actions paying back evil for evil, silence, lording it over, neglect.
Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Prov27:5
Hebrew word ”??????? root = to hide, conceal:— translated absent(1), conceal(3), concealed(4), cover(1), hid(11), hidden(16), hide(33), hides(4), hiding(3), placed(1), secret things(1), surely hide(1), undetected(1).
All of us have suffered damage by the actions of others.
We have all hurt others.
We are to abhor these things and avoid them mot just be uncomfortable or tolerate.
Wherever we have broken relationships, we have an internal evil cancer that spreads until vital members of the body are destroyed.
Wherever we find strained relationships, someone quit walking in the Spirit.
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not mere men? 1 Cor. 3:1-4
If God were to project you internal life on the screen what would be seen. Evil images or godly images? Pictures of peace or images of destruction? May God give us a realistic glimpse of just how evil some of these things really are. Somehow they seem so much more evil in someone else. When we do them they are justified for not so bad. Anything that damages the community or fellowship God designed us to demonstrate is evil and should be abhorred and avoided.
Look outside
Examine your schedule and use of time that is destructive to relationships.
Are you fighting over things? Then get rid of the things that divide.
What about activities that destroy unity? How about places you go that produce soul damage and depreciate relationships.
Only when we get an eternal perspective on how our words, actions and attitudes and thoughts damage others and destroy community in the body will God be able to bring about significant freedom and growth in our own life.
There is a flip side to “abhorring evil.” Just as we are to abhor and avoid the evil that damages and block relationships, we are to tightly embrace the good that builds and binds relationships.
2. “being glued to the good”
Paul used one of the strongest words possible in regard to avoiding realtioanlly-blocking attitudes and actions. He also employs an equally intense word with regard to embracing anything that builds relationships. The unhypocritical love abhorring evil, being glued to the good.
“Cling” be glued or joined to, be powerfully attached or connected to, be associated with, be a servant The word was used to indicate a sexual joining. Don’t be “joined” to a prostitute. Married couples are to leave and “cleave” to each other. This word is most always found in the passive form indicating an action done to us rather than that we do. I.e. “be attached or associated, be connected to, be glued to. Actively and continually abhor and avoid the evil things that destroy community. Actively and continually abhor and avoid the evil things that destroy community. Be completely associated with, stuck to and continually demonstrating the good things that develop community. I would add not only passively be glued to it but actively embrace it. Double bonding to the good!
“Good” = morally right, kind, useful, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy excellent, upright, honorable, of good constitution, godly in character, pleasing to God.
The term was used in relation to people, things, groups, events
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. James 3:13
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philip. 4:8-9
In regard to the evil that destroys community – detest it. Abhor it and avoid it. In regard to the good that develops community – be inseparably associated with it. Live it. Embrace it Think about it. Let it shape your attitudes and become the essence of who you really are. A good person. Continually pursue it.
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Luke 6:27
"If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. Luke 6:33
So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:10
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, “The one who desires life, to love and see GOOD DAYS, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. "He must turn away from evil and DO GOOD; He must seek peace and pursue it…Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 1 Peter 3:8-13
The health of our relationship with God is inseparably linked to the quality of our relationships with people.
Ask God to glue us to the good until it become our very character.
Attitudes – servant attitude, acceptance, honor, value, sympathetic,
Thoughts – you are of value to God, I can learn from you, I have been called to be a blessing to you. You are part of the body. We are interdependent. You may be different but you are necessary to the proper functioning of the body.
Words – words of encouragement, comfort, truth in love, words that energize and meet the need of the moment.
Actions – a helping hand, an encouraging card, a timely call, a needed resource…
As a demonstration of genuine love, continually abhor and avoid the evil things that destroy community and embrace and become permanently glued to those things that develop community.
"For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who DO EVIL."
