Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0226A recorded on September 28, 1980 teaching from Romans 12:9-21 – Overcoming Evil with Good.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens explores the ethical imperatives of Romans 12:21, characterizing the Christian life as a continual warfare between the destructive impulses of evil and the transformative power of goodness. He argues that believers must resist the “perilous possibility” of moral defeat by actively replacing ego, envy, and vindictiveness with a brotherly love that transcends national, racial, and denominational boundaries. Central to his teaching is the concept of sanctification, where self-will is uprooted and replaced by the Holy Spirit, allowing the believer to respond to hostility with Christ-like kindness. Ultimately, Stevens presents a vision of the triumphant life not as an absence of struggle, but as a commitment to overcome evil with good by surrendering personal rights and trusting in God’s ultimate justice.