Romans: Theology for Everybody (12-16)Sample

Everything God builds, Satan tries to break.

Division started in heaven long before it arrived on the earth in the church. Satan had a different vision than God. Holy angels sided with God and unholy angels created a faction, siding with Satan and supporting his division. Today there is one vision and no division in heaven. The faction of demonic division is now present across the earth as Satan counterfeits what God creates to make confusion and division.

The Bible uses the metaphor of Jesus as our Chief or Good Shepherd, with Christian leaders as shepherds, people as vulnerable sheep, and the presence of wolves working for Satan—who is their alpha—leading the entire pack. Just as the devil and his demons attacked in heaven, so too they continue their attack on the earth. People who ignore or underestimate the presence of spiritual wolves put themselves in harm’s way, which is why the Bible gives repeated warnings about evil people. Hundreds of times the Bible speaks of evil people as “the wicked”.

Evil people are dangerous and cause harm intentionally. Often, they have suffered abuse or trauma that contributed to bitterness and opened them up to demonic influence. If they don’t heal from the hurt, the evil done to them can reside in them and work through them. Evil people respond to their own hurt by hurting others. They are tormented, and so they torment others. They live by the demonic values of fear and punishment and can be threatening, controlling, demanding, and domineering. With an evil person, it is a win-lose war, and they want to win and make everyone else lose. Evil people have little to no compassion for anyone but themselves and are often unconcerned about the pain and harm they inflict upon others. Wise people live by the Spirit, foolish people live by the flesh, and evil people live by the power of demonic forces.

Evil people have three kinds of relationships. When you encounter an evil person, you must choose which kind of relationship you will have.

1. Two evil people form a dangerous relationship like wolves form

a pack.

2. An evil person and a foolish person have an abusive

relationship like a wolf with a sheep.

3. An evil person and a wise person have a distant relationship like

a wolf with a shepherd.

To close Romans, Paul acts as the shepherd warning the sheep about the wolves. Christians think of sin in terms of what we do in life—doing a bad thing or not doing a good thing—but sin also includes (and often starts with) who we do life with. Satan has a long history of working through evil people to try and build relationships with God’s people.

This pattern starts when Satan shows up uninvited in the garden asking our first parents to partake in a meal together, which is how friendships form. The devil did the same thing with the Lord Jesus, asking to break bread after 40 days of fasting. Satan also brought Judas to the Last Supper and Jesus knew when to release the evil Judas. “Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘What you are going to do, do quickly.’” (John 13:27)

Sometimes we have to release an evil person and simply keep our distance from them, no longer having a relationship with them. No one is beyond God’s help, but some people are beyond our help. Until they turn to God seeking His help, and possibly meet with a licensed professional, there is not much we can do to assist them. Paul warns against some people for the same reason that a parent tells children not to talk to strangers–because he is compelled by love and wisdom. Like any family, the church needs to have a front door that is open for friends and guests but closed for enemies and troublemakers.

Questions: 

1. Are you a person who is prone toward division, gossip, drama, conflict, or mistrust? Be honest and if there is anything in you that leans this direction, spend some time repenting to God and inviting the Holy Spirit to change your heart and life.

2. Is there anyone you are listening to, siding with, tolerating, or being influenced by who is negative, divisive, or unhealthy? If so, what does a clear healthy boundary look like with them? How can you “avoid them”?