1Thessalonians 5:15, 22

Hate evil, pursue what is good.

Do not pay back evil for evil.

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Matthew 5:39 ; Romans 12:17; 1 Peter 3:9

The temptation to evil is powerful and destructive

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was forbidden to us from the beginning.

WSC Q. 10 "God created man, male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures."

The problem is internal.

Mark 7:23 "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

John 3:19;

Romans 7:19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

God's position over evil. Habakkuk's question:

Hab 1:13 "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?"

One answer is found in Isaiah 57:1

The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil.

Another answer comes from Paul, where he speaks of Christ, Galatians 1:4

who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Another answer is found in Jesus' prayer: John 17:15

"I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one."

Yet another answer is found in the Lord's Prayer: Matthew 6:13

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The last answer we will consider comes from the words of Christ in John 5:29

"and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone.

To render evil for evil is to test God. God has told us clearly: do not render evil for evil to anyone.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

Imitating the wicked will entice you from the way of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 13:5

Exodus 23:2 "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.

3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

To do evil is to undo what Christ has done for us in justifying and in sanctifying us.

Matthew 12:35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Fear God and hate evil:

God commends those who fear Him and so obey His Word.

Job 1:1 Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

2Corinthians 6:18-7:1

It is never too late to hate evil and do good.

Proverbs 30:32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth.

Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 6:13

To do good you must believe and obey.

Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;

Always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Don't speak evil of one another but build one another up.

James 4:11

Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 2:10

Love your enemies.

Job's example: (the righteous man) Job 31:29

David's example: Psalm 7:4-5

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Romans 12:19-20; Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:44; Matthew 5:11

Do good.

Keep examining your heart.

Proverbs 15:28; Proverbs 15:15