The believer’s life is loaded with benefits (Psalm 68:19), but one of the greatest of these benefits concerns the area of vengeance. According to scripture, vengeance is reserved for the Lord’s enemies (Deuteronomy 32:41; Judges 11:36), or adversaries (Deuteronomy 32:43; Jeremiah 46:10; Nahum 1:2), or the heathen (Psalm 149:7; Micah 5:15) but specifically upon “them that know not God” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). God does not deal with His people in vengeance, it is reserved for those who reject the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8). When the children of God are disobedient, the Lord chastens, but He never takes vengeance upon His own.
A simplistic view of vengeance involves the retribution of an evil deed. The first (Genesis 4:15) and last (Jude 7) mention of the word vengeance substantiates this definition. The Bible uses words like recompence (Deuteronomy 32:35), reward (Deuteronomy 32:41), punishments (Psalm 149:7), avenge (Jeremiah 46:10), revenge (Ezekiel 25:15), and repay (Romans 12:19) as descriptive words for vengeance. With this in mind, it is clear that vengeance is the just punishment as a consequence upon those who violate the laws of God. It is not the dispensing of wrath without cause but is specific punishment exacted for specific crimes committed.
The first chapter of Romans concludes with a list of horrendous sins. These sins reveal people who were completely void of the relationship God intended for His creation. Most believers could never imagine the possibility of being guilty of the sins of sodomy (Romans 1:26-27), murder (Romans 1:29), and hating the Lord (Romans 1:30). Yet, egregious sins begin through a rather simple process. The list in Romans reveals that the downward spiral begins when men fail to glorify God and refuse to give Him thanks (Romans 1:21). Sadly, many of God’s people are laying the groundwork for a downward spiral into further degradation. Becoming a child of God empowers the Christian but does not eliminate his freedom to choose his path, right or wrong. Unfortunately, traveling the wrong path can lead a Christian into the depths of inexpressible depravity.
