Following the establishment of “Perfect Peace” in the previous message, this sermon addresses the greatest internal threat to that peace: offense. In a season of traumatic experiences—marked by lockdowns, civil unrest, and the pain of injustice—disappointment is high, and offended hearts are common. While offense is inevitable in a broken world, living in a state of offense is a choice. As followers of Christ, we are called to be “living sacrifices,” choosing peace over retaliation as a form of true worship.
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The Context of Persecution: Nero and Rome
To understand the weight of Paul’s command to “live at peace,” we must look at the world in which he wrote:
- The Architect of Persecution: Emperor Nero brutally targeted Christians, using them as scapegoats for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD.
- A Familiar Scheme: Christians were falsely accused of “hatred for humanity,” a crime used to justify their execution.
- God’s Sovereignty: While Christians could not control Nero, God remained in control. Today, the Roman Empire is in ruins, while Christianity has spread to every corner of the world.
- Our Response: We cannot control how rulers rule or how others act, but we have total control over our response to evil.
The Call to Be a Living Sacrifice
Paul begins Romans 12 by urging believers to offer themselves as “living sacrifices” in view of God’s mercy.
- Mercy as the Foundation: Because God withheld the wrath we deserved, we are empowered to withhold retaliation against others.
- A Continuous Act: Unlike Old Testament animal sacrifices, a living sacrifice is a daily, continuous surrender of our rights, our anger, and our desire for vengeance.
- True Worship: Proper worship is not just singing; it is responding to unfair situations with love, mercy, and grace.
Blessing vs. Retaliation
The scripture provides a radical blueprint for dealing with enemies:
- Bless, Do Not Curse: To bless is to speak well of and act kindly toward someone. It is a sacrifice of our natural inclination to “hurt back.”
- The Power of Transformation: Stephen, the first martyr, prayed for his executioners as he was being stoned. One of those men was Saul , who eventually became the Apostle Paul.
- Justice for Love’s Sake: Seeking justice is biblical (Isaiah 1:17), but as Christians, we pursue it out of love for the oppressed, not a desire for personal vengeance.
The Discipline of Peace
Maintaining peace requires intentional actions and a humble heart:
- Shared Emotion: We are called to rejoice with those who succeed (countering envy) and weep with those who suffer (countering apathy).
- The Enemy of Pride: Peace is impossible where pride exists. Humility is the “wisdom” that allows us to make allowances for others’ faults.
- The Limit of Responsibility: Paul acknowledges that peace isn’t always possible because it requires two parties. However, your responsibility is to ensure that nothing on your end is hindering reconciliation.
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Is there an offense you have been nursing that is stealing your perfect peace? Today, the Holy Spirit is calling you to surrender that hurt as a living sacrifice. You may not be able to change what happened, but you can choose to let go of the trap of offense. As far as it depends on you, choose peace today.
