Believers should not seek vengeance because God alone has said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.'
Romans 12:19 directly commands believers not to avenge themselves, and Les Feldick teaches that God will take care of repayment. Since God is for us, just, and in control, believers can leave wrath in His hands rather than trying to get even.
Romans 12:19 — This is the central verse that explicitly forbids personal vengeance and assigns repayment to God.
Romans 8:31 — Les connects the believer's security and confidence to the fact that if God is for us, no one can truly be against us.
Romans 12:21 — This verse gives the positive alternative to vengeance: overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19 is the key passage: 'Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.' God reserves vengeance for Himself. The very next verses instruct believers to respond to enemies with kindness: 'Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good' (Romans 12:20-21).
Les Feldick teaches that 'avenge not yourselves' flies in the face of human nature because we always want to get even, but believers do not have to try to get even—God will do it. Les says, 'It may take Him a little longer than it would us, but He will. That goes around, comes around, and it never fails. If God is in control, and you know He is, and someone has misused you, give Him time. He's going to square the matter.' He adds that he would rather have God do the repaying than do it himself, because God will be a lot tougher than we could ever hope to be (Clips 1 and 2). Les also grounds this in God's justice, reminding listeners that God is just, righteous, and has never treated anyone unfairly (Clip 7), and in the believer's security: because God is for us, nothing can be against us (Clip 6).
Les teaches that the command to live peaceably is qualified: 'If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.' He says there comes a time, hopefully never, when believers should not just lay down and let others misuse them simply because they are Christians. But this immediately precedes the command 'avenge not yourselves,' so resisting misuse is not the same as seeking personal vengeance.
Les points to Romans 12:20-21: if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if thirsty, give him drink; by doing this you heap coals of fire on his head. The goal is to be not overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. This is the practical, positive response that replaces personal retaliation.
Les teaches that God's work of the cross makes believers secure regardless of tribulation, distress, or persecution. Even if believers are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, they are more than conquerors through Christ. Since God is for them, no accusation or opposing force can overturn His justice.
Why Repentance Was Offered to Israel — Acts 5 Explained
I profited in the Jews," what? Religion. See? It was a bad thing. And the same way here. These people were the religious leaders of Israel, and as soon as they saw and realized the truth of what Peter and the eleven were proclaiming, they have only one option. Kill them. And so they sought to slay them. Alright, verse 34. "...
God Will Repay
Les uses Romans 12:19 to show that the command 'avenge not yourselves' means believers don't have to get even because God will square the matter—even if it takes longer than we would like.
Leave Repayment to God
Les says he would rather have God repay than do it himself, because God will be tougher; then he points to feeding an enemy and overcoming evil with good.
Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2
Everybody, every person that�s ever lived so far as God is concerned, had reconciliation accomplished. And all they have to do is believe it, to appropriate it. So this is why God will have every right in the world to pour out His wrath. He�s done everything possible to make it as simple as possible, so that lost humanity can come back to Himself. So then verse 6.
More Than Conquerors
Les notes the world's attitude toward believers is like sheep for slaughter, yet in all these things believers are more than conquerors through Christ.
Secure Because of the Cross
Les says tribulation, distress, or persecution cannot force a believer out of his place in the body of Christ because security is based on what God has done.
God Is for Us
Les teaches that when God is for us, nothing can really be against us; what happens to the flesh cannot touch the eternal part held in God's hands.
God Is Just
Les reminds listeners that God is just, righteous, and has never treated anyone unfairly, making Him the reliable avenger.
Romans 12:18: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Les quotes this verse to show that peace with others is the believer's aim, yet it is qualified by 'as much as lieth in you.'
Romans 12:19: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
This is the direct command not to seek personal vengeance and the promise that God will repay.
Romans 12:20: Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
This gives the positive, loving response to an enemy instead of revenge.
Romans 12:21: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
This summarises the believer's call to respond to evil with good rather than with retaliation.
Romans 8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Les uses this verse to assure believers that God's presence is greater than any opposing force.
Romans 8:37: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Les quotes this verse to show that believers prevail through Christ even when facing persecution or death.
Les acknowledges that the desire to get even is human nature, but he stresses that Romans 12:19 tells believers not to avenge themselves. Believers are told to leave that to God.
God will. As Les says, 'Vengeance is Mine' means God will repay. He may take longer than we would, but He will square the matter.
Yes. Les teaches that if God be for us, nothing can be against us. Even tribulation and persecution cannot separate a believer from the security Christ provided.
Watch the Teaching: Why Repentance Was Offered to Israel — Acts 5 Explained