Category Archives: Evil

Roman-style dagger with decorative sheath and handle on wooden table
Avenger, Bible, Evil, Good, Romans, Scripture, Sword

THE SWORD

ROMANS 13:4

“or it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”

I was with a friend of mine this past weekend helping him pack up some things as he prepares to move. As we were packing, I noticed a sheath on the shelf and saw the hilt of what looked like a sword. He pulled it down and showed it to me. He told me he had given it to his son at his bat Mizpah when he was thirteen. It was meant to represent the sword of the Lord, His Word. What a great idea!

Paul uses the word “sword” in today’s verse to stand for the power of the authorities God has placed over us. He uses this word here and back in Romans 8:35. The sword was meant to symbolize the power to protect the innocent but to also punish the evil doers. Remember, Paul has already stated that every authority is placed by the Lord for a reason. That sword is a reminder to us that will use these authorities in our life to keep us in line.

APPLICATION

That kind of sounds like we have to live in fear, Carl. No, no, no! Paul is very explicit here in this verse. He says, “if you do what is evil” and “the one who practice evil.” Both of these are in the Present tense which implies a lifestyle, not a one time event. We all are capable of failures from time to time. God knows we will never live a perfectly sinless life. Only His Son, Jesus, was capable of that. But we are not to make evil our normal practice.

Paul uses another word of interest in this verse. He says the person who has been placed in authority serves as “an avenger who brings wrath.” The Greek word for “avenger” is ékdikos, which is defined as “someone executing a just judgment, carrying out what is right which can include administering punishment for the wicked.” (HELPS Word-studies) If they are God’s avenger against those doing evil, why should we not choose to obey, knowing that by doing that we are really obeying the Father?

Ekdikos is only used once more in the New Testament in 1 Thessalonians 4:6 where it says, “…because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you.” You see, it is really the Lord who avenges evil. “Submit yourself, therefore, to the Lord. Resist the devil and he will flee.” (James 4:7)

I trust the sword in the hand of the authority knowing that You place all who are in authority for a purpose.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Child dressed in police uniform saluting a police officer on the street
Authority, Bible, Evil, Fear, Good, Respect, Romans, Scripture

NO FEAR OF AUTHORITY

ROMANS 13:3

“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;”

Okay, be honest. You’re traveling down the road at just over the speed limit and you see a police car. What do you do? You instinctively take your foot off the accelerator, right? You tap those brakes just a little and then you watch in your rear view mirror to see if they turn around and turn on their blue lights. That may depend on just how fast you were driving. The point is we all have that little fear of getting a speeding ticket.

Paul tells us in today’s verse to just drive the speed limit, and you will have no fear. Well, he didn’t exactly say that, but you get my drift. He asks, “Do you want to have no fear of authority?” And then he answers his own question. “Do what is good…” If we are obeying those in authority and doing good toward them, we will have no fear of them. Paul tells us those in authority are there for a reason – to point us toward good behavior.

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated by the phrase “cause of fear” is phobos. We get our word phobia from that. It’s a fear that causes you to withdraw. I have a fear of snakes. When I see one, I want to go the other direction. I can’t for the life of me understand why anyone would want to touch one, at least a live one. Paul is telling us that our authorities in our lives should not cause us to withdraw. Quite the contrary, we should be drawn to them if we are doing good.

Paul makes the point that authorities are not in our lives to make us fearful of doing good but rather to make us fearful of doing evil. That makes sense, doesn’t it? I feared my dad’s belt, not for doing good things to my siblings, but for doing bad things to them. And that fear was a healthy fear, not a scared to death fear. I knew he was shaping my future behavior by how he dealt with my misbehaviors.

What are you fearful of? I pray it’s not those in authority over you. I pray your response to them is a healthy respect and obedience, so you will not have to fear consequences for not obeying their guidance. May your response be exactly what Paul says in the last phrase of today’s verse. “Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;” Amen?

Thank You, Lord, for those whom You have placed over me. Help to bless them as I serve them.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Wooden cross on rocky mountain summit with sun setting behind clouds
Bible, Conquerors, Evil, Good, Overcome, Romans, Scripture

OVERCOMING EVIL

ROMANS 12:21

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Have you ever let your emotions get the best of you? You know what I mean. Something happens to upset you and before you know it, you have lost your cool and said or done something that you regret. Isn’t it best to stop and count to ten before you make a hasty, often regrettable decision? I have to count to 100 sometimes to calm myself down, lol.

In this last verse of chapter 12 of Romans, Paul wraps up his discussion of how to get along with others which he started back in verse 9. He has been giving us some very practical life skills on how to live with people, whether friends or enemies. In today’s verse, he uses a Greek verb which comes from a word we are very familiar with in the sports world. The word “overcome” is nikáō which comes “from níkē, (victory) – properly, conquer (overcome); to carry off the victory, come off victorious. The verb implies a battle” (HELPS Word-studies) We’ve all heard of Nike, right? What young boy hasn’t wanted a pair of Nike Air Jordans?

APPLICATION

Paul is telling us to not allow evil to gain victory over us, to conquer us. Instead, we are to conquer our inclinations toward evil by doing good. Remember yesterday’s verse? Do good to your enemies (give them food and water). By being intentional about doing good, the desire to do evil is conquered. This verb nikáō occurs 28 times in the New Testament. And get this – 14 of those times it occurs in Revelation. The last use is in Revelation 21:7 which says, “The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” I just love that, don’t you?

The word used for “evil” is the same word Paul used back in verse 17. It’s the Greek word kakós which really refers to the inward evil in a person. Some would define this as having a morally rotten character. It differs from poneros which refers to the effects of evil. Paul is telling us to not let this morally corrupt evil overcome us. We need to reflect the opposite and portray the love of Christ toward our enemies.

You may have someone in your life right now who tempts you toward evil. You want to repay them for all they have done to you. You want to get even. You may even wish them harm. Repent of those thoughts and do as Paul instructs. Overcome evil with good. Pray for them. Do good to them. And watch how the Lord heals your heart toward them.

O God, it’s hard to love those who hate you, but Your Son did just that. Let me show that kind of love to everyone.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Roman man pointing and scolding a kneeling young man in tattered clothing in an ancient courtyard
Love, Bible, Scripture, Evil, Respect, Romans

RESPECT FOR OTHERS

ROMANS 12:17

“Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people.”

When I read today’s verse, I instantly thought of one my memory passages from our Every Man A Warrior study. 1 Peter 3:8-9 says, “8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.” Isn’t that a fitting passage to begin our look at Romans 12:17?

As Paul continues to give us practical, everyday guidelines as believers, he directs us to do things today. One – never repay evil for evil and two – respect what is right. Those are a couple of good suggestions, don’t you think? Both of these are in the Present Tense so we should be doing this all the time, not just once or twice. They should be our lifestyle of dealing with others.

APPLICATION

The word “repay” is the Greek word apodidómi which literally means to deliver or make a payment. Even when people do evil against us it does not give us a free pass to do evil to them. Don’t forget the culture in which Paul is writing. The Roman rule over Christians was harsh. Many of the early believers were slaves to hard masters. I am sure some lay in bed at night thinking of ways to pay back their masters for their horrible treatment. So, Paul was addressing a real world problem. Paul uses the same word in 1 Thessalonians 5:15. “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.”

Then Paul says to “respect what is right.” The word “respect” is pronoéō which means “to think (plan) before, showing necessary forethought to act properly (in God’s will).” (HELPS Word-studies). It’s also used by Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:21. “for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of other people.” Paul uses it again in 1 Timothy 5:8 to admonish the man who does not care for his family. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Repay appropriately and respect appropriately. Are we doing that to those who wish us evil, to those who treat us harshly, to those who ignore and shun us? I never said it was easy, but it is possible or the Lord would not have told us to do it. Right? So, dust yourself when they knock you down and pray. God will give you the ability to do whatever He asks of you.

Lord, You ask some hard things of us at times, but I know with Your power I am able to do it.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Add sign reading Love Evil Good
Bible, Choices, Evil, Good, Love, Romans, Scripture

CHOOSE WHAT IS GOOD!

ROMANS 12:9

“Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.”

We make a lot of choices in our lives, don’t we? Some of those choices end up being very good and others not so good. We choose colleges, houses, spouses and careers. But God gives us some guidelines on how to make the right choices in His Word. In today’s verse, we will see the right choices to make time and time again.

Paul abruptly changes subjects from spiritual gifts to practical guidelines for Christian living. Wait a minute – isn’t that what exhortation is? Paul is actually exhibiting one of the gifts he just listed by giving us some great tips on how to live for Christ in the remainder of chapter 12. These are going to be fun to examine, so hang on over the next couple of weeks in this blog.

APPLICATION

MacLaren says this about Paul’s description of the kind of love we are to show to one another. “Love stands at the head and is the fontal source of all separate individualized duties. Here Paul is not so much prescribing love as describing the kind of love which he recognizes as genuine, and the main point on which he insists is sincerity.”  The Greek word for “free of hypocrisy” means to not act like a phony, no hidden agendas. That’s pure love. We see that same word used in 2 Corinthians 6:6 where it says, “in genuine love.”

Then Paul tells us to “detest what is evil.” Well, that’s pretty direct. What a great choice for us to make! The Greek word for “detest” is apostugeó which is only used here in the New Testament. It literally means to utterly hate or abhor. In this day we in which we are living, we are surrounded by evil. It seems the world is embracing evil as an actual choice today.

Paul goes on to say, “cling to what is good.” I love that, don’t you? My two youngest grandchildren cling to Papa and Nana whenever we hold them. They have a tight grip on us, so as not to fall. The Greek word for “cling” means “to glue.” It’s the same word used by Jesus when He says in Matthew 19:5 for a man to be “joined” to his wife. Glue yourself to good!

What great practical advice for us as followers of Christ! Love genuinely, hate evil and glue yourself to good. Do you think you can make those choices? God does!

I praise You, Lord, for giving us such wise counsel in Your Word.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Disobedience, Evil, Good, Obedience, Scripture, Works

PRACTICING THE WRONG THINGS

ROMANS 7:19

“For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”

When I was in college, I had this recurring nightmare that I arrived at a class for an exam only to discover that I had studied the wrong information. After hours of cramming, I failed miserably, not from lack of preparation, but from preparing with the wrong information. If you want to do well at anything in life, you have to prepare well and use the right stuff. You will never learn to drive a manual transmission if you only drive automatics, right?

Paul states the obvious in today’s verse. He basically says, “I can’t do this because I am doing that.” He wants to do good but is too busy doing bad. Let me remind you that Paul wrote this letter from Corinth towards the end of his third missionary journey. I wouldn’t call what he had been doing evil or bad works. Just the opposite. He had put his life on the line numerous times. So, why would he say this in today’s verse?

APPLICATION

Our hearts are inherently wicked. Paul uses the Greek word kakós for “evil.” The Topical Lexicon says, “It functions as a broad moral term encompassing wicked character, destructive actions, corrupt motives, and harmful consequences.” Let me just say, people in ministry are not exempt from evil. After all, we are only human like the rest of you. I know some preachers who have their “hit list” of people they wish would get out of their way. That may sound funny, but it is too true.

Paul was writing this letter from a pretty wicked city. Corinth was not known for its wholesome atmosphere. It was full of pagan gods and idol worship. I am sure Paul struggled at times keeping his temper or his attitude in check against such evil. I truly believe today’s verse showing his confession of such things should encourage us to be more open and confessional. We have all been there at one time or another.

Let me encourage you to spend more time practicing the good things and less time the evil things. Spend more time praying than complaining. Invest more in purifying your minds and less time filling it with mindless dribble. Don’t walk into that final evaluation period having spent all your time in the wrong stuff. Walk in fully confident of having spent time with the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is His wisdom we seek, not our own.

Lord, fill me with the desire to please You in all I do and to spend time with You each day.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Confession, Evil, Forgiveness, Scripture, Sin

FORGIVEN

ROMANS 4:7

“‘BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.’”

When I think back to my life before Christ, I am so thankful for His grace and mercy. I was never evil, but my actions and deeds were. I don’t have to enumerate them here. I am sure you had similar deeds in your “Before Christ” days. Am I right? Knowing what is not good and still doing it is just evil. It’s what I used to tell my children was “willful disobedience.” I was willfully disobeying. I deserved punishment, but I got grace. Hallelujah!

In today’s verse and tomorrow’s, Paul quotes from Psalm 32:1-2, which I quoted yesterday in my blog. Most scholars agree that David wrote this Psalm after his sins involving Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah. It may have been written right after Nathan confronted him or at a later time while he was reflecting on it. Either way, it is a beautiful psalm of confession and forgiveness. You can use this as your own psalm of praise over your forgiven sins.

APPLICATION

Do you remember the story behind this psalm? David had stayed home from the war (his first mistake) and when he couldn’t sleep one evening, he took a walk on his rooftop. It was there he saw Bathsheba bathing on a nearby rooftop. Let’s be clear – that first glance was not sin. The second glance, however, is where it all began. Lust sprang up in his heart and he began to plot to “take” this woman. Lust let to the sin of adultery and then murder.

Sins have a way of multiplying quickly. I just had a thought pop into my head (dangerous, I know). Do you remember “herman” bread or maybe you called it “friendship” bread? You got a starter blob from someone or started your own. Then you watched that blog grow in the frig due to the yeast expanding. You were supposed to take part and make bread and then give part of the remaining blob away. My mom never gave any away. We had “herman” bread coming out our nose, lol.

That’s how sin spreads. Left unchecked it expands and grows and will eventually lead to death. If you have unconfessed sins today, bring them to Jesus. Maybe you’re reading this, and you are not a believer yet. Make this day your day of salvation. Say with David, “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.”

Father, I praise You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for rescuing me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Corruption, Evil, Goodness, Rejection, Scripture

NO ONE DOES GOOD

ROMANS 3:12

“THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME CORRUPT; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

No truer statement could be said about our society today than this verse. People had just as soon shoot you as greet you. In some of our cities people are dying every week from gang violence or random shootings. This week three police officers were killed during a domestic disturbance. No one seems to be doing good. In fact, it’s just the opposite. They all seem to be doing bad.

Paul uses a word for “does good” that is a very common verb. It’s used over 600 times. But the important part of this particular usage is the tense of the verb. This is a Present Participle Active. What does that mean? It means it’s a continual practice among these people. Their lifestyle, described in the previous two phrases of the verse, tells it all. “They have all turned aside” and “they have become corrupt.” Because of this they are incapable of practicing good.

APPLICATION

Let’s look at what causes their lack of doing good. Paul says, “they have all turned aside.” The meaning of this is to deliberately avoid something or reject something. It’s not just an oversight. These individuals have made a choice to shun God, and one result is the inability to practice good. Sure, they may do a good thing occasionally, but as a lifestyle it is not in their thoughts. The word here is only used two other locations (Romans 16:17 and 1 Peter 3:11)

They are also corrupt. It’s funny that this word means “spoiled.” Have you ever taken a big swig of milk that has turned sour. Yuk! Gross! That’s the idea here. They are useless. What do you do with spoiled milk? You discard it. It’s good for nothing. That Greek word is only used here in Romans 3:12.

Are you doing good? Are you practicing good? Or are you a defiant, sour person? The choice is yours. You have to turn towards Christ and keep yourself fresh in His Word. Then you can live a life doing good for Him and others. Will you do that today?

Father God, cleanse me and purify my motives so that I am looking for ways to serve You and others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Evil, Lifestyles, Scripture, Unrighteousness, Wickedness

NOT A PRETTY LIST

ROMANS 1:29

“people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips,” 

I have often made pros and cons lists when I needed to make a decision. It could be about a move somewhere or trying to decide about a new job. I know some people who have those kinds of lists about whom they will date. It doesn’t make much sense to make a decision when the cons outweigh the pros, right? Aren’t you glad God didn’t weigh us that way?

In today’s verse, Paul begins a list that is pretty bad. It’s a list of behaviors and lifestyles that go against every fabric of decency, much less any sort of godliness. Now, before you start judging people over these behaviors, remember that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Our job as believers is to walk in such a way that we avoid these behaviors. The key to the verse is the participle verb at the beginning, “having been filled.” Let’s look at that.

APPLICATION

“Having been filled” is from the Greek verb pléroó. It can be translated as “to fully, completely fill, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), (figuratively) to fully supply, satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction).” (Lexical Summary) So, you see it can have lots of meanings. Barnes says about this phrase, “Being filled – That is, the things which he specifies were common or abounded among them. This is a strong phrase, denoting that these things were so often practiced as that it might be said they were full of them. We have a phrase like this still, when we say of one that he is full of mischief, etc.”

These were not one-time events in these people’s lives. This was their lifestyle. We all sin. We all fail. But we cannot stay there. We can’t remain in the sin. We can’t continue in the sin “that so easily entangles us.” I once talked with a guy who “slipped” four times and had sex with women other than his wife. And he couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t forgive him. Lifestyles matter when it comes to living for Jesus. Amen?

I don’t really need to go through the list of things Paul mentions here. You can look all those up if you want further explanations of them. The point I want to make is we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not hedonistic lifestyles. We need to be filled with the motive to glorify Jesus in all we do, not glorify our own fleshly appetites. What or Who is filling you today?

Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord. Come and quench the thirsting of my soul.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Beware, Bible, Enemies, Evil, Gospel, Scripture, Warnings

BEWARE!

PHILIPPIANS 3:2

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;”

Contrary to what some of my UGA Dawg haters claim, this verse is NOT talking about my beloved Dawgs, lol. Seriously though, this verse is a warning verse. Being aware of your surroundings is important, especially on the highway. My Uncle always warns me before I leave on a road trip to “watch out for those fools on the road.” In other words, drive defensively.

Paul tells us to beware of three things – dogs, evil workers and the false circumcision. We’ll take a look at what he meant by all three. But first, why did he tell us to “beware”? That’s the Greek word blépō which means “to see, be observant (watchful).  Blépō) suggests ‘to see something physical, with spiritual results (perception).’ That is, it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert).” (HELPS Word studies). Paul tells them to put on their spiritual eyes.

APPLICATION

Paul says to “beware of dogs.” The word for “dogs” was used to describe a spiritual predator who feeds off others. Dogs were not like they are today. Back then most dogs were scavengers. In fact, one term they were called was “mooch pooch” because they ran around mooching off anything they could find. Spiritual dogs look for weaknesses in others and pounce on them to try to bring them down.

“Evil workers” are those “Judaizing teachers, who,..pretend to be strenuous advocates for good works, are, in fact, evil workers; sowing the seeds of discord, strife, contention, and division, among the…members of Christ.” (Benson commentary). There is nothing much worse than someone pretending to be one thing but turning out to be something totally different. You might call these individuals a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Lastly, Paul “beware of the false circumcision.” These were the people who insisted that circumcision was required of the Gentiles for salvation. Paul seemed to battle this group wherever he went. But Paul insisted that adding anything to what Christ did on the cross for us was, in fact, adding to the Gospel.

Now, let me warn you. These people are still out there. All three still exist in some form or the other. Sadly, many of them are in our churches trying to tear down the purpose of the church and its mission. Keep your spiritual eyes on. Look past the physical into the spiritual motives of people. Our only purpose should be to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and glorify the Father in heaven.

O Lord, give me Your eyesight to perceive and recognize those who would do me or others harm spiritually.

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