"Be not overcome (nik-ah'-o) of evil [Satan gets the victory, sin results],
but overcome (nik-ah'-o) evil with good [Christ gets the victory and glory,
blessings result]."  Romans 12:21 [notes mine]

*  *  *

In leading the "The Excellent Wife" Bible Study this week, we discussed the important principal of "overcoming evil with good."  It is a command by God to us as our biblical response to evil. It is important for us as believers in Christ to get an handle on this so that we can become "overcomers" for good in our Christian walk.  This is especially true in our relationship with our husbands since we are "one flesh" with them and it is our goal to press on to "holiness" and to become godly wives.  Overcoming evil with good is possible if we understand God's purposes in it.  Let's look at it:

"Overcoming evil with good" is first and foremost God's way (and thus our way) of dealing with sinful men who inflict pain, suffering, hurt, or unrighteous behavior on others.  Sin is defined as kak-os':  a bad nature; not such as it ought to be; of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting base, wrong, wicked, troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful.  Or, as our Shorter Catechism states in Question 24 in answer to "What is Sin?: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature." Thus, if we are behaving in a wicked manner, it is sin and thus evil. “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:3)

In the marriage relationship, evil is often depicted by the sinful behavior of:

a.                   neglect of one spouse to the other;

b.              a husband who fails to love his wife as Christ loves the church and to lead and minister to her;

c.                  a wife who fails to biblically submit to her husband and thus fails to love and minister to him;

d.                  by harsh, cruel, uncaring and cold behavior, by nagging, complaining, tormenting, belittling and by verbal and physical abuse of one spouse to another;

e.                 an unbelieving husband/wife who torments his/her believing spouse because of his/her faith;

Dr. Jay E. Adams in his book “How To Overcome Evil” states:

"The word "overcome" is a war word.  It comes right off the battlefield with
the smell of smoke and sweat still clinging to it.  The term is used to
describe a defeat; to be overcome is to be defeated in battle.  To overcome,
on the other hand, is to defeat the enemy.  You are in the battle your life.
Your battle is with sin wherever it is found -- without you; outside of you.
Here, of course, Paul is thinking of those sinful attempts that others make
to hurt you.  Through them Satan wants to defeat you and disgrace Christ"

and

"Christ will countenance no other way of defeating evil.  Evil must be
overcome His way.  Any other way would be too feeble and would be out of
harmony with His holy intentions.  Evil must be met and conquered on the
field of battle with good.  GOOD IS THE MOST POWERFUL, MOST AGGRESSIVE, MOST
VIOLENT FORCE ONE COULD POSSIBLY USE."  (pp. 13, 26; emphasis mine).

"Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them
that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one
toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.
Be not wise in your own conceits.  Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much
as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance
is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of
fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:14-21

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on
the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love
them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the
same?"  Matthew 5:43-46

"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Matthew 22:39

Editor & Publisher,
“Heavenly Notes 2001”  

To view previous articles:  Heavenly Notes Archive