Who would love their enemies? | Bob Wriedt | Romans 12:14-21

For as long as I've been a Christian, I've been encouraged to love my enemies. Passages like Jesus' instruction to turn the other cheek or Jesus' forgiveness of his crucifiers are rightly tied to the very fabric of Christian ethics. 

Being so familiar with the call to love our enemies might blind us to the obvious question: Why? Why would anyone love their enemies? Is it just a provocative and difficult thing to do? Or is there more to it than that? 

This week at Grace, we'll be in Romans 12:14-21, looking at Paul's exhortation to bless and not curse those who persecute them. This paragraph represents the other side of the coin from the paragraph that came before. Last week, Chris taught on loving one another in the church. Now, Paul shifts to loving those who are against us. Yet the ethic of love remains the same. 

Is there something in the big picture of the gospel in Romans that answers the question of why we should love our enemies? 

Let's talk about it together this Sunday!

In Christ, 

Pastor Bob

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Romans 12:14-21

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.