Overcoming Sin through Christ

A Comprehensive List of Sins

(Alphabetically Arranged)

Richard Hollerman

The plan of this study is simple.  We will look at a large number of sins, one by one, alphabetically.  We will define the sin, describe it, and comment on it, along with noticing Scripture references on the particular entry.  Some illustrations will be offered along with the description.

Revenge or Retaliation

We know that love is a primary trait of the spiritual person.  Paul writes, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).  This is agape love, the outgoing, sacrificial love that seeks the highest good of the beloved. If we have this true love, it will affect everything we do in life.  We know that “love does no wrong to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10), but more than this, love will look for ways to do good to all others.  As Paul said, “Through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

The apostle also wrote, “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (6:10).  We are even to love our enemies—those who hurt us, those who are cruel to us, and those who treat us unkindly, with a mean spirit (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28, 35).  Jesus also said, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31; cf. Matthew 7:12).  Would we want others to do wrong to us?  If not, how can we do wrong to them?

Revenge and retaliation are responses to perceived wrongs that deny the meaning of love in our life.  Are there any shades of difference in the various words used with this thought?  Revenge, reprisal, retribution, and vengeance “suggest a punishment or injury inflicted in return for one received.  Revenge is the carrying out of a bitter desire to injure another for a wrong done to oneself or to those who are close to oneself. . . . Reprisal is used specifically in the context of warfare; it means retaliation against an enemy. . . . Retribution usually suggests deserved punishment for some evil done. . . . Vengeance is usually vindictive, furious revenge.”[1]

If a boy is slapped by another boy, he may hit him in return—“just to get even!”  If a child feels slighted or abused or harmed, the immediate reaction may be to retaliate “to get even.”  This is childish behavior and doesn’t solve the initial problem.  It is wrong, but think of the revenge that adults may inflict!

Although it is altogether natural for people to take revenge on a person who has offended him or her, it is not the way of God.  Perhaps Romans 12 is the best Scriptural portion to show God’s will for us in regard to revenge.  Paul says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (v. 14).  This is the very opposite to the way of the world.  Instead of the natural curse, we are to bless and seek good for the persecutor.  Paul goes on to say, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone” (v. 17a).

We can understand how someone may want to pay back someone who has harmed him or her.  God says this is not to be done.  It has been said that it is demonic or satanic to pay back evil for good.  It is human to pay back evil for evil.  And it is Christlike to pay back good for someone’s evil.  People of the world don’t understand this kind of response to wrongdoing.

Next, Paul says, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will replay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).  The offender will receive God’s own vengeance or punishment one day, but it is not our place to render such vengeance ourselves.  Let God take care of the injustice!

Paul continues, “’But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (vv. 20-21).  Again, this is far different from the ways of the world.  Our unbelieving friends and neighbors may say, “If your enemy is hungry, starve him!  And if he is thirsty, poison his water supply!”  But the Lord says to “not be overcome by evil [the way of the world], but overcome evil with God [the way of God].”

The Lord Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, tells us to live in a nonresistant way: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:38-39).  This is the opposite to what the world would say we should do.  We are to love and do good to our enemy (vv. 43-48).  Christ tells us, “I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).  Be willing to love and bless your enemies like this, regardless of their response.

When a neighbor does something unkind to you, do you try to win that neighbor with love and kindness?  Maybe you could mow his grass, or run an errand for him, or take him something to eat that you bake, or invite him for watermelon at your picnic table.  Surely, try to find out why the neighbor is angry and unkind with you.  Overcome his evil with good!  If your boss is cruel to you, don’t try to get even in a carnal way.  Instead, be willing to help him do something, or offer to provide something for him, or give him a gift, or treat him with respect and friendliness.  Overcome his evil with your good!  If your spouse is unkind and mean toward you, do her or him good instead of trying to “even the scales” and do him or her harm.  Overcome the spouse’s evil with your good. Maybe your inlaws treat you unkindly, or your brother or sister is impatient and harsh toward you.  Don’t try to retaliate even in a subtle way; instead, do the person good.

Paul says, “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).  Here again, the apostle counsels us to seek the good of our “enemy” instead of seeking to do him harm for his evil. The example of Jesus is for us: “You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23).  Jesus didn’t defend Himself or retaliate against those who mistreated Him.  He just committed Himself to God.

In the future, the enemy (if he remains impenitent) will be judged and sent to hell for all eternity.  You need not take revenge now, in this life!  That is God’s decision and work (Romans 12:19).  In the next chapter of 1 Peter, Peter applies the same principle of non-resistance to us: “. . . 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” (3:9).  Bless your enemy and don’t try to get even. Turn away from revenge and retaliation.  Live with an attitude of nonresistant love and seek peace (Romans 12:18).

 

 

[1] Random House Webster’s College Dictionary.