Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
~Romans 12:17-19
I think it’s safe to say that many Christians struggle with justice and vengeance through their sanctification journey. When we’re wronged by another’s sinful actions, we want justice! We may even fantasize about some “appropriate” revenge for said offender. Oh, but then the Gospel comes flooding back into our mind and spirit: We were once dead in our sins, indulging the desires of our flesh…but God, in His rich mercy, rescued and revived us. Not by our own efforts, but through faith alone, by grace His alone (Ephesians 2:1-10).
Then it happens again. The cruelty of another pummels our life like an ocean wave. A leader in business, politics, even the Church is found out to have done despicable things to image-bearers of God. We hear unconscionable stats about child sex trafficking in our nation, state, and city. We cry out for justice, our minds racing with the pain and retribution we’d inflict. Oh, but the Word of God again washes over us: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44); “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27; “Never repay evil for evil to anyone” (Romans 12:17); and “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). This is inexplicable to the puny human mind, isn’t it? We throw up our hands to the Lord in exasperation, thinking, “What about Your justice, Lord? Certainly, You don’t wink at these atrocities and let these wicked people get away with this!”
It is the sentence tucked between those “never repay evil for evil” verses in Romans 12 that we typically park on to calm our distress: Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19).
“Yes,” we conclude, “I can take a back seat on the bus of retaliation and watch with satisfaction…God will get them!” Vengeance will be meted out by God. Not by you or me.
But that verse in Romans 12 was illuminated to me in a fresh way recently that totally reframed His vengeance…and the Gospel truth. See, God is holy and cannot tolerate any unrighteousness. Payment is made for the atrocious sins of “those people” mentioned above—and someone will pay the penalty, which is God’s full wrath. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” Sweet friend, do you see it? God takes vengeance—He repays! I am counted among “those people”, and so are you. But God took the vengeance—He took on the payment that you and I deserve!
Oh beloved, when we admit we are sinners and believe that Christ’s death and resurrection counted for us, His righteousness is imputed to us—Jesus took our sin and experienced the wrath of God that’s meant for us. That man or woman who hurt you, that politician who abused and raped, that child predator hunting the innocent…wrath will be imposed appropriately! God will take vengeance on them. His wrath will fall—either on them or on Jesus. And it is the very fact that we’ve escaped our own deserved wrath that we can—we must—pray for our enemies and persecutors as Jesus commanded. We were enemies of God when Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). So, if we can go from enemy to friend of Jesus, so can they.
Oh God, vengeance is Yours. And I am so thankful that Jesus took the wrath that I deserved. Help me to pray that my enemies surrender to You as well, finding their own undeserved mercy and transformation in the Cross.
encouraged by grace 