Doing Good Through Jesus - Romans 12:21 (Part 5)
Dear Friends,
Welcome back to our fifth article in our series on all that is “Good.” We’ve been meditating on the verse in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This has been a very timely verse for us to incorporate into our daily lives, as there are so many people suffering from fear, depression, discouragement, uncertainty, poverty and sickness. If you are a believing, child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have all that is needed to fulfill this exhortation and to hold out the Light to those who need freedom from these debilitating problems. Praise the Lord! Through the grace of Jesus Christ, we have everything we need in Him to “overcome evil with good.”
If you have not had the opportunity to join us in the previous articles in this series, they can be found at DiscoveringGrace.org, or by clicking through to Part 1 (Discovering Grace Weekly #5), Part 2 (Discovering Grace Weekly #6), Part 3 (Discovering Grace Weekly #7), Part 4 (Discovering Grace Weekly #8).
To summarize in a nutshell… We have learned that through our faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we who have believed in Him already have within us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the ability needed to “not be overcome by evil.” It is through our faith in Christ’s victory and the promises in His Word that we have become overcomers. It is by this same divine energy and through faith that we are enabled to also “overcome evil with good.”
“For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].
Who is the one who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the one who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.” - 1 John 5:4-5 AMP
I am humbled by the incredible thoughts and plans of God, first to save us from the perils of sin and the bondage to Satan, but also to fill us with Himself in all of His power and love, and to entrust us with His amazing message of grace and hope. Going into these last days, we must have a powerful revelation of our union with Christ in order to bring the powerful message of grace and rescue to those who are still in the grip of sin and are unable to get free of the oppression of the devil. Jesus gave us the best illustration of our union with Him through faith in John 15. Have a look…
“I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].
Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” - John 15:1-5 AMPC
The Word of God tells us so clearly how clean we are through the redemption we have in Jesus’ blood shed at the cross, and that we have complete and total forgiveness of our sins (see Ephesians 1:7). When we believed the Gospel, God placed us “In Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30), and it is through this union with Him that we are enabled to bear fruit to God. I love this brilliant illustration of the vine and branches. We are only the branches, and without a vital union with Jesus, the True Vine, we are completely unable to “overcome evil with good,” as Romans 12:21 commands. In fact, without a vital union with Jesus, we are able to do nothing. The last I checked, the word “nothing” still means “no thing!” We can do “no thing” without Jesus!
This is actually comforting to me, because it takes all of the pressure off of me to perform. It is the Vine that supplies everything that is needed for the branch to produce fruit. Understanding this union I have with Christ through the power supplied by the Holy Spirit who lives in me, gives me greater confidence that I can do anything commanded in Scripture in the New Covenant. I can do everything that God says I can do, and I do all of these things through His empowerment, not my own pitiful efforts.
“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” - Philippians 4:13 AMP
Wow...that’s a powerful verse of Scripture! You should read this to yourself several times over until you feel energized to get up and do something for His Kingdom. We are completely sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency...ready for anything...equal to anything. This is one amazing infusion of the God-kind of power and strength. Every time I read this Scripture, it makes me feel like a superhero, so empowered and so confident. It is through this confidence in my union with Jesus that I am able to “...not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Look out...Here I come!
There is another important key that Jesus brings out in His illustration of the vine and the branches that we need to lock our faith onto. When we understand and believe by faith that we are vitally unified with Jesus, we will see our prayers being answered in miraculous ways. This important key is necessary as we go forth into this world trying to “overcome evil with good.” Let this powerful promise take root in your heart…
“If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.” - John 15:7-8 AMPC
Jesus equates getting our prayers answered, through our union with Him and His Word, to bearing or producing much fruit. Getting our prayers answered honors and glorifies the Father, because everything His Son does glorifies the Father. When we are asking in unity with Jesus, the Father is honored and glorified by our fruit. This is how we are going to be empowered to “overcome evil with good.” Trust me... when our prayers are answered, the devil is defeated. By nature of our prayers being answered in Jesus Name, we automatically “overcome evil with good.” Getting our prayers answered is a powerfully good thing, for us, and for those we pray for.
I’d like to show you one more verse that brings to light the reality of what God has given to us as His vessels, though we are fragile. We are nothing more than the simple vessel through which Jesus Christ does His miraculous works today…
“The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.” - 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 CEV
When I read this verse, it makes me think of those movies that have some crazy, valuable stone or treasure that is buried in some worthless pot or clay vessel. The pot or vessel is so ordinary that no one would think to break it open to see the amazing treasure that was buried inside of it. This is how God describes us. We are like a clay pot that has the most valuable treasure inside, and that treasure is the power of God that is inherent in Jesus Christ. God has stored that amazing treasure and power in something that is otherwise powerless. Oh, the amazing grace of God!
Now, dear Believing Friends, knowing what God has placed inside of us, and the promise of Jesus that our unity with Him equals answered prayers, it makes this exhortation in the first part of Romans 12 so much easier to fulfill...
“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” - Romans 12:1 AMPC
Last week, we covered the first few verses in Romans 12. Since the exhortation we’ve been studying, “Do not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good,” appears at the end of the chapter in Romans 12, we know that the context reveals a lot of instruction leading up to this command. To begin with, the writer, who is the Apostle Paul, pleads with us based on all of the revelation that he has meticulously detailed in the previous eleven chapters concerning all that Christ has done for us. He pleads and appeals to us to make a dedicated decision to serve the Lord entirely with our bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and well pleasing to God. Knowing that we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and His divine power and ability imparted to us for service, we are more than able to serve the Lord wholly.
Practically speaking, serving the Lord will involve leaving what has been our normal mode of operation in the natural or sense related realm, and learning to function and walk out our life by the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance by the Word of God. Our mode of thinking has to change, from the world’s system and ways of thinking about things, to the truths found in God’s Word that are believed and acted upon in faith.
“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” - Romans 12:2 AMPC
Let me give you a very timely and practical example… The world system has people believing right now that they need a vaccine or a mask in order to be saved from this deadly virus that is running rampant in the world today. However, the Word of God declares that …
“He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, as on an altar of sacrifice], so that we might die to sin [becoming immune from the penalty and power of sin] and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24 AMP
Since sickness and death was the penalty for sin, as was clearly expressed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:17), sickness and death cannot be imputed as a penalty to anyone for whom Jesus died as a substitute. If He took our sin into His own body so that we would become immune from the penalty and power of sin, then what right or authority does sickness have in bodies that have already been redeemed? None!!!
This brings me back to this very practical point. If Jesus died in your place, so that you could be free of sin and the penalty of it, which is sickness and disease and death, then what need have you of a vaccine or a mask? You have no need, “for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed.” Notice, though, that this is true for those “who believe” that what God has done and said is true.
Are you still not sure about this? Let me be even more clear. Deuteronomy, chapter 28, gives amazing, detailed descriptions of the curses, sicknesses and diseases that will come upon any who do not abide by all that is written in God’s perfect Law (this involves the whole Law including the Ten Commandments). Since we know that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NASB), and that “no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands” since “the law simply shows us how sinful we are." (Romans 3:20 NLT), we are all deserving of every curse, sickness, disease and death that the justice of the broken Law demands. And yet…
“Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross),
in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.” - Galatians 3:13 -14 AMP
Some Christians are under the mistaken idea that though they believe they were saved by grace, they are still somehow unclean, still just a sinner, and thus susceptible to everything that the world is susceptible to. I have good news for you, though. Jesus purchased your freedom by taking that curse for you in His own body on the cross. There are no more curses or condemnation left for you to bear in your body. If you have received the gift of His salvation and the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit by faith, then you are completely clean and there is no defilement in you. Let me prove it…
Under the Old Covenant, the Lord dwelt among His people in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle or temple. He would only fill the place with His presence when there was the blood of a substitute that had been shed upon the altar, and its blood sprinkled on all of the articles of the temple, including the Ark of the Covenant. Friend, you have been justified (declared not guilty) by the shed blood of Jesus, your substitute, and the Scripture now calls your body the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). If you were still defiled, the Holy Spirit would not dwell there. This should revolutionize how you see yourself in Christ and Christ in you.
I hope this is helping you, dear Believer! I know I have touched on more things than I have time in this article to fully explain, but I’d like to leave you with one more passage of Scripture that should seal the deal in your mind, as it involves your susceptibility to this virus. Let me just say also, that your age has absolutely nothing to do with it, either. If you are a true believer, your protection is solely in the Word of God, the blood of Jesus, and your joyful agreement by faith in all that He has done for you and promised you.
I want you to see something awesome, just so you are absolutely certain about your protection from the devil’s virus or any other evil device. The Lord has promised some really powerful things to the believer who takes their place in “the secret place of the Most High” and who by faith declares, “I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Please read carefully all of these promises to you in Psalm 91. Don’t skip over even one of them, as they are so important for those of us who are living in the last days…
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.
Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.” - Psalm 91 AMPC
Dearest Believer, if you will take your place in Christ, and say to the Lord that you trust Him to protect you because of Christ’s sacrifice for you, this plague will in no manner come close to you.You will never find protection in a mask or a vaccine, for “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12). I must stress again that these promises are made only to those who will believe in them and trust God to be their “Refuge and Fortress.”
You may be wondering, “How do I know if I am in the “secret place of the Most High?” Friend, if you are a born-again, believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are in the “secret place of the Most High!” Next, you may wonder, “Well, how do I know if I’ve made Him my “Refuge and Fortress?” The answer is very simple. Check what you have been saying. The promise states that “I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!” Have you been declaring that God is your protection, or have you been speaking words of fear, worry and concern? Have you been focused on the virus or on your redemption in Christ’s blood? Do you find yourself fearful to be in close proximity of others, or are you comfortable that you are completely protected in Christ? Your words and actions reveal what you believe or don’t believe!
You may also be tempted to ask, “Well, what if I end up getting the disease?” Then I say, look at the promise at the end of Psalm 91. It says, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” If the devil tries to attack you, just cry out to God and He promises to answer you and deliver you. He also promises that, “with long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.” You have God’s promise of a long, satisfying life, if you will believe His Words. Isaiah 54:17 promises you that, “no weapon formed against you shall prosper.” If you’ve already suffered with the virus, don’t condemn yourself, just begin again walking in these promises of protection by faith.
Our family takes our place in “the secret place of the Most High” every morning as we celebrate communion with Jesus, while remembering His death for us on the cross and His resurrection that has given us this abundant life. We believe He has given us His everlasting life, and that life does not have a place for remnants of the curse of sin, which Jesus shed His blood to remove. Sickness, disease and death are not tolerated in our thinking. You may think that sounds silly, but we are basing our existence on all that God says is true about us in His Word and not on the things that the world believes or promotes. This is what it means when the Scripture says…
“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” - Romans 12:2 AMPC
As we continue meditating our way through Romans 12, concentrating on the exhortation to “not be overcome and conquered by evil, but overcome evil with good,” we are going to have to let our minds be totally transformed by the amazing Word of God. God says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (1 John 1:2 KJV). In order to navigate our current times, our mind and our faith in His Word must be unshakable. In order to help others find their way to freedom in Christ Jesus, we are going to have to remain stead fast in what we believe to be true according to the whole counsel of His Word. We can’t help anyone find freedom from fear of sickness or demonic depression, if we are as afraid as the rest of the world.
Dearest Believers, our union with Jesus and His righteousness imparted to us through faith is the most powerful revelation we can have, in light of our redemption. Let us be bold in our believing that, in Him, we have everything we need to “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
If you have never received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, I encourage you to make that decision right now. Perhaps you’ve been moved to faith by some of the things I’ve shared this week. The Lord has made salvation very simple and uncomplicated, simply…
“Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].” - Acts 16:31 AMP
Friend, you can be enjoying this marvelous union and friendship with the Lord right now. Just follow the instructions given in this next passage of Scripture and you’ll be on your way to a loving, guilt-free, faith-filled relationship with the God Who created you for awesome things…
“...if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer].
For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.” - Romans 10:9-13 AMP
If you have made that decision today or you are still thinking about it, we’d like to suggest a few more articles that will really help you. Get Saved Now...Ask Questions Later, All Who Are Weary, and So Thankful.
Finally, as we press on this week with transformed mindsets and a heart filled with a desire to “overcome evil with good,” let us fix our minds on the reason that Jesus has set us free…
“For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.
It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,
Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.” - Titus 2:11-14 AMPC
Now that, dear Friends, is Grace!
written by
Eileen R. Jacobs (February 2021)
Copyright © 2021 Eileen Jacobs Ministries. All rights reserved.
Note:
One last note...if today you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, we encourage you to write the date down somewhere important to you. Many people like to write the date of their salvation on the inside cover of their Bible. I can’t stress enough how important this is to do. Not only does it help you remember the day you became a Child of God, but it is a marker of your New Birth like a birth certificate, which is a legal proof of your existence. This marker is important because, whether you know it or not, there actually is a devil. Since he is a spirit, he has an ability to speak to our minds by way of deceptive thoughts. I can almost guarantee that there will come a time when a suggestive thought will come to your mind that will cause you to question whether you are really saved or not. This is where that date recorded or marker or New Birth certificate becomes important. You can simply go back to your Bible or wherever you wrote it down, and remind yourself or say to the devil...”Nope, you’re wrong! This date is the day I received Jesus, the day of my New Birth, the day I became a Child of God, the day I was saved, the day my name was written in the Lamb’s book of life...end of discussion!”
Finally, we would love to know that you have joined the family of God. We are so excited for you and we want to keep you in our prayers. Email us to let us know!
Comments