Romans 12:9-10,17-18 (NKJV) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another; …Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Some compare the Christian life to that of an Atlantic salmon trying to swim upstream against the current to a spawning location. Is it possible for us to do all that is commanded above? The answer is yes because God has enabled us to do so just like the He has given Atlantic salmon certain muscles to swim upstream.
Because we are all by default self-centred and affected by our senses, if we don’t exercise self-control, our first reaction when we are offended or sinned against, is to take vengeance into our own hands and repay evil for evil, thus reaping the consequences of being overcome by our emotions.
As free moral agents, we have a choice to walk in love or to take revenge. Holiness and consecration are not automatic but everyday choices that we make. After the Fall, men became slaves to sin who are controlled by their sin nature, which explains why we all struggle, like the Apostle Paul, with wanting to do good but ending up doing evil. However, those who have received Christ into their lives have been set them free from the law of sin and death and now operate in the law of the Spirit of life, thereby giving them the ability to resist repaying evil with evil.
Romans 8:2 (NKJV) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Born again Christians are “new creations” with God’s nature in them and are empowered by the Holy Spirit which lives in them. The law of sin and death is like the law of gravity that applies to every human being, but while the law of gravity holds the aircraft on the runway, the plane takes off the moment the law of aerodynamics is applied. Likewise, although nobody overcome the law of sin and death by themselves, if we allow the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to rule and reign in our lives, it becomes possible for us to overcome sin and temptation.
God wants us to be blessed and to prosper holistically, which means to have a restored relationship with Him, as well as good interpersonal relationships. Strained relationships impact our minds and emotions, and ultimately our health. Therefore, the more we choose to walk in love, the more joy and peace we will experience.
It is our choice to allow the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to empower us through the “new creation” found in the “inner man”. That’s how it is possible to do what Scripture commands.
Sermon Series: You Can Do It! (Part 1)
你能做到 ！
罗马书 12:9-10,17-18 爱人不可虚假。恶，要厌恶；善，要亲近。 爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。 ……不要以恶报恶；众人以为美的事要留心去做。 若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。
有些人将基督徒的生命比作逆流而上到产卵地的大西洋马鮭魚。我们有可能做从上面所吩咐的一切吗？答案是肯定的，因为神已经使我们有能力，如同他给与大西洋鮭魚特别的肌肉能逆流而上一样。
因为我们都是既定的以自我为中心，并受感观所影响，
如果我们不操练节制，当我们被冒犯或被得罪时，我们的第一反应就是要亲手报仇、以恶报恶，于是就要承受情绪失控所招致的后果。
作为自由的道德代理人，我们可以在行在爱中与采取报复之间作出选择。圣洁与奉献不是自动的，而是我们每天作出的选择。自从始祖堕落，人就成了罪的奴隶并受控于其罪性，这解释了为何我们总是在挣扎，像使徒保罗，虽想行善却终究犯罪。但是，凡接待基督耶稣的人，挣脱了罪与死的律，如今是运行在赐生命之灵的律中，这就给了他们能力抵挡以恶制恶的念头。
罗马书 8:2 因为赐生命圣灵的律，在基督耶稣里释放了我，使我脱离罪和死的律了。
凡重生得救的基督徒就是“新造的人”，里面有有神的性情，又得了住在里面的圣灵的赋能。罪和死的律就像万有引力定律一样影响着每个人；但是，当重力定律使飞机维持在跑道上时，空气动力定律却在飞机起飞时产生。同样的，虽然没有任何人能靠自己胜过罪和死的律，如果靠着基督耶稣生命之灵的律来主宰我们的生命，我们就有可能胜过罪与试探。
神希望我们蒙福并且凡事兴盛，这意味着要与他修复关系，同时也要有良好的人际关系。紧张的关系会影响我们的思想和情感，并最终影响我们的健康。所以，我们越是选择行在爱里，越能经历平安与喜乐。
我们可以选择让基督耶稣里生命之灵的律，借着在“内在灵人”里发现的“新造之人”赋能给我们。如此我们就能行出圣经吩咐我们去行的。
讲章系列： 你能做到! (第一部分)