Gospel Prism

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. (Romans 12:17-21)

If anyone knew about living out his words, it was the apostle Paul. He was a man of conviction who always supported his convictions with his actions. So when he writes about not repaying evil for evil, he is not merely preaching empty words. Paul suffered at the hands of many who unjustly harmed him. Listen to his account of how much he suffered unjustly:

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ( 2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

I write this because I am continuously at a tension in my understanding of justice. I firmly trust in ultimate justice, the perfect justice that God will meet on all who do not genuinely trust Him. The punishment for such hard-heartedness is so great that torture, the electric chair, the guillotine, and the hang man’s noose pale in comparison to what lies ahead for the unrepentant sinner. But while I believe this justice firmly, I also hope that Brian’s murderers receive earthly justice. I hope they are caught, they are punished, and that they are given a ‘just’ sentence.

But what if one of his murderers repented of his sins genuinely, and came to know the Lord? Would he be deserving of the same eternal rewards that Brian now has? The answer is an absolute ‘yes.’ Jesus Christ paid the penalty for all who trust in Him (Romans 6:23), regardless of the heinous nature of the sin. Does that mean such a person should not face punishment here on earth? The answer to that is ‘no.’ All sin has consequences, even though there might be forgiveness by our Lord. Adultery can lead to a divorce even though the adulterer can be forgiven of sin. The thief might be imprisoned and yet he can be forgiven. And the murderer, in our system of juris prudence, can receive the death penalty, even though he could be forgiven of his sin.

I must admit in my own weakness and flesh that I do not wish the murderers would turn to the Lord because I hope for eternal punishment as well as earthly punishment for them. But I know that is my flesh speaking and it is by grace, that I remind myself of the Gospel. That like Paul, even those who do terrible things to me or my family, I hope I can extend the Gospel to such a person so long as I live. Vengeance is not mine. It is the Lord and he will meet it out perfectly. So I need not think that the criminals will escape apart from God’s justice. And that should even free me to pray for them, that they might long for Christ one day, even if it is behind bars.