Romans 1: 1: If Possible Live Peaceably With All
In the final passage well look at within this paper, well have a good conclusion to our discussion about self-defense: If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 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. 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. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good .
This has a wide range of applications. If a neighbor steals from you, use Spirit-inspired discretion, leaning on the side of loveanswering evil with good. If at all possible, live peaceably with people, even criminals. However, Paul recognizes its not possible in this broken, fallen world to live peaceably with everyone. But that is still a tall order, and we should not neglect it: in every area of our lives, we must live peaceably with everyone, by every possible means.
In other places, Paul appeals to Roman law to protect himself . Other times, he rejoices in his own suffering and persecution .
Theologian Robert H. Mounce summarizes this well: The natural impulse is to return injury for injury. But retaliation for personal injury is not for those who claim to follow the one who told his disciples to turn the other cheek and go the second mile . Instead, believers are to be careful to do what is honorable in the sight of everyone.
What Does The Bible Teach About Violence
Hamas, meaning violence, wrongdoing, is the Hebrew Bibles primary term for violence and is first used in Genesis 6:11: the earth was corrupt in Gods sight, and the earth was filled with violence. It occurs sixty times in the Hebrew Bible, is almost always used to identify physical violence (Genesis 49:5 Judges 9
What Does The Bible Say About Where Demons Come From/where They Are Now
As weve explored, demons were originally holy angels who have since become fallen angels. The Bible mentions that some demons are active on Earth they are referred to in Ephesians 6:12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Other demons are already experiencing punishment for their sins. Jude 1:6 mentions them: And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
God has planned an eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels . Demons are aware of their eternal destination. In Matthew 8:29, two demons shout at Jesus: What do you want with us, Son of God? they shouted. Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?
Right now, demons are still deceiving people, hurting people, and influencing people to sin. But God is doing redemptive work in the world, and we can find protection from demons by asking God to help us with his unlimited power. As Jesus says in Luke 11:20: But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
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What Does The Bible Say About Protecting Yourself From Evil
While the Bible doesnt specifically say that you should protect yourself from evil, it does encourage a healthy dose of caution. The Bible says that God is always with us and will protect us, but we still have to be careful and make wise decisions. The Bible also teaches that we are not to fear those who can only kill our bodies because death is not the end for Christians, but simply the passing from one phase of life into another .
What does this mean? It means that if someone threatens your life or puts you in danger, then its okay to use force against them if necessarybut dont go out looking for trouble! Be cautious and trust Gods protection over your safety when possible dont put yourself or anyone else in harms way unnecessarily.
In these verses we can see that God is present in our lives and provides us with protection from the evil of this world. Furthermore, God shows us that what is good and pure is from Him, and has not come from the evil in this world.
This verse shows us that even when we feel like there is no one around to help us, God will always be there to protect and guide us through lifes trials.
It also shows how much He cares about protecting His children against those who wish to harm them physically or emotionally. Even though Satan wants to destroy everything good about humanity, he cannot touch those who belong to Christ if they call upon Jesus for protection .
Bible Verses About Guarding Yourself
Watch over your heart with all diligence,For from it flow the springs of life.
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.I said, I will guard my waysThat I may not sin with my tongue I will guard my mouth as with a muzzleWhile the wicked are in my presence.
Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
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Is Killing In Self
At first glance, killing in selfdefense seems unproblematic. But if there is no way to save your life short of killing the person who would otherwise kill you, then you are morally permitted to kill that person. Killing in selfdefense is, in other words, an exception to the general prohibition against killing.
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A Wrong Admiration For The Man Of Violence
Thirdly, do not admire the “man of violence”.
Proverbs 3:31-32 Do not envy a man of violence, And do not choose any of his ways. 32 For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD But He is intimate with the upright.
Those who resort to violence rather than Godliness are not to be admired. There are many similarities between David and Joab. Both were skilled at killing men, and both had killed many men. Were they both men of violence? Here is the difference: David, first and foremost, sought the Lord, trusted the Lord, and loved the Lord. Why didn’t he do violence against Saul? It wasn’t because Saul was his father-in-law. Rather, it was because Saul was the Lord’s anointed. It was because of David’s regard first for the Lord that he would not resort to violence.
On the other hand, Joab, over and over, resorted to the sword to deal with problems. Joab was a man of violence.
Proverbs 1:16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
Romans 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood
Earth was destroyed in the day of Noah because “the earth was filled with violence” . God hates violence. There is a narrow scope in which it is applied righteously, but it is only because of sin that such skill is necessary.
Beware of influences in your life which would encourage admiration of a Joab rather than a David.
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What Does The Bible Say About Self
The Bible does support self-defense. While Christ does denounce retaliation and revenge, He does not prohibit acting in self-defense. Therefore, believers are not sinning when they defend themselves or others from harm and suffering.
- Sophia BrickerContributing Writer
- 202111 Nov
Security is important in the modern world. Cybersecurity, advanced technological home safety systems, and knowledge of self-defense tactics are abounding in society. Christians also seek security in their churches and home, with self-defense classes sometimes offered by churches.
Although it can be easy to make assumptions about safety, the first concern for the follower of Christ should be what the Lord says about any subject, including personal safety and defense.
Relevant passages about self-defense can be found in Scripture, which includes specific statements and examples of faithful followers of God engaging in the protection of themselves and others.
Give Yourself Grace What The Bible Says About Being Kind
Leviticus 19:18 ââdo not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. Being safe against satan means to put on god. Leviticus 19:18 ââdo not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. As christians our first option should
To him be glory for ever and ever. In response to aggression and deadly harm towards others, people have the right to protect themselves. Therefore, we are free to defend ourselves without fear of biblical injunction against doing so. When owning a firearm we must be responsible. What does the bible say about protecting yourself from harm?
Inproverbs 16:32, say, âwisdom teaches us.â. It is this protection that paul had in mind when he wrote, âthe lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. For the scriptures say, âi will take revenge It is essential for individuals to protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers posed by aggressive and deadly actions. Bible verses related to defending yourself from the king james version by relevance.
If someone gets hurt and killed due to someoneâs actions, they have a right to do so. When owning a firearm we must be responsible. What does the bible say about protecting yourself and others? It is possible to defend yourself reasonably under certain conditions. To him be glory for ever and ever.
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What The Bible Says About Protecting Yourself From Sexual Sin
In light of the recent scandals surrounding allegations of sexual impropriety, turning to scripture could keep the married and single alike on the right track.
Vice President Mike Pence was ridiculed when it was revealed that he makes an effort never to be alone with a woman who is not his wife.
But the Bible gives clear guidance on how to avoid sexual sin.
For example, 1 Corinthians 6:18 admonishes, Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whosoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
The word flee means to run away.
And in Exodus 20:14 the Commandment is: You shall not commit adultery.
The digital age has made the problem even more pervasive and available than ever before. People access pornographic images on their smartphones and other devices at alarming rates.
You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart, states Matthew 5:27 and 28.
All verses below are NIV
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Believers Protect Themselves By Watching Out For False Teachers
Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh
Again, we see Paul using repetition to protect the Philippians. He says, Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. He is using repetition for the sake of emphasis. Essentially, he is saying, Watch out for those dogs, watch out for those men who do evil, watch out for those mutilators of the flesh.
Most likely, Paul is referring to a group of false teachers called the Judaizers. When the gospel began to spread in the book of Acts, a group of professing Jewish Christians taught a need for Gentiles to practice the Mosaic Law in order to be saved. Salvation was not by faith alone. We see this conflict at the Antioch church in Acts 15:1. It says, Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved. This brought Paul and Barnabas into a sharp debate with them, and because of this, Paul and other representatives went to the Jerusalem church to seek the counsel of the apostles. The apostle James gave the final decision on this situation. He said,
The Gentiles were not commanded to practice the Jewish law and circumcision as a means of salvation. But, they were to practice sensitivity regarding Jewish customs in order to not offend the Jews living in various cities. Essentially, they were asked to practice the law of love .
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What Does The Scripture Say About Protection
The Scripture says much about Gods promises to protect His people who love Him and keep His commandments. To such people God says I will never leave you nor forsake you . However, it is important for us to clearly understand that although God has the ability to deliver us out of every calamity, trouble, or life-challenge, it may not be His will to do so. There are times when God decides to use these trials to purify us. During such moments, instead of weeping and grinding our teeth over our situation, we should rather rejoice in our hearts because by allowing such trials to come our way, God test our faith or trust in Him to develop more faith that will lead us through perseverance and endurance to spiritual maturity in the likeness of Christ .
More of what the Scripture says about the protection of God for His people
All things in Heaven and on Earth belong to God. He is the one who blesses with riches: Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever . 1 Samuel 2:7 says, The LORD sends poverty and wealth he humbles and he exalts. In our quest for riches, we should lay emphasis on achieving Heavenly Riches that last forever .
The Essence of Gods Protection
Exodus 2: 2: The Killing Of A Thief Found Breaking In
In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites laws that showed his just character and desire for order. The first five books of the Bible are called Torah, which means teaching, or instruction. So, even though the Levitical laws dont always apply to Gods people anymore, we should still learn from them.
In Exodus, one of the laws for Israel states, If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him
There are a couple of key ideas in this text. First, if there is a home invader at night who is presumably stealing from you and you kill them while defending your home, you are not guilty of murder. The second is harder to nail down: Why is it different in the daytime? It is equally important to realize that if you kill someone in the daytime, you are guilty of murder, even if its in defense of your property.
There are a few explanations. First, the thief could be more easily caught during the day. Another suggestion is that if the thief is stealing during the daytime, he is less likely to kill someone. At night, it seems more likely that someone entering your house is intruding and up to no good, whereas in the day, they might be doing something odd but not wrong. Or, maybe the difference is that a groggy person awoken at night may not reasonably be able to hold back how forceful they are.
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What Does Turn The Other Cheek Mean
One of the main verses involved in the discussion of self-defense includes Matthew 5:39 when Jesus talks about turning the other cheek.
The Lord stated, You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also .
Many Christians read this verse and wonder if Jesus means that they should allow themselves to be harmed and not defend themselves.
When examining this verse, it is important to understand that Jesus is directly referring to Old Testament passages that deal with the law of retaliation .
Based on these verses, God intended to limit the retaliation involved with wrong acts. Christ affirms this but focuses on people willing to give up their rights and endure slights against themselves.
Many commentators emphasize that the slap on the face could be referring to an insult, but even a slap on the face is not life-threatening. Instead of responding in retaliation, Christ urges a selfless attitude by turning the other cheek and going the extra mile .
This teaching of non-retaliation is reflected in the writings of the apostles as well. Believers are reminded, Do not repay anyone evil for evil and do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult .
These verses are not about self-defense, but rather about retaliation. As Jesus taught, Christians are not to offensively retaliate against someone for being wronged.