"REAL LOVE"

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."

Romans 12:9

Nearly every Christian you talk to knows what the Great Commandment is, and they can even point you to where in the Bible it is found. Almost everyone also knows that love is the most significant Christian virtue. But why do others get the feeling that our love is not real?

Romans is one of my favorite books in the Bible, not only because of the rich theological truths it presents but also because it teaches how we can apply those truths in practical terms. For me, knowledge is good, but unless someone else benefits from it, knowledge means nothing.

This section in Romans 12 is a short list of practical applications of the teachings he shared in the first 11 chapters. In the previous passages, Paul talked about spiritual gifts and the necessity of using them for the building up of the church. In other words, the Apostle discussed the "what" and the "why.” In the next passage, he presents the "how.”

Paul's first command is for love to be genuine. He uses the Greek word "agape" to describe the kind of love Christians should demonstrate to others. This concept was rare in Roman culture. In fact, it was even despised and seen as a sign of weakness. The Romans prided themselves in their worldly wisdom and brute strength and were never known to embrace humility or selfless love.

Agape love revolves around the welfare of others, to the point of sacrificing one's comfort, convenience, and life. John said that "God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God" (1 John 4:16). The entire message of both the Old and New Testaments reflects God's undeserved love for wretched sinners like you and me, and He wants us to extend the same kind of love to others, even to people who seem difficult to love.

The sincerity of agape love can only be expressed through the help of the Holy Spirit. He enables us to love purely and sincerely (Greek anypokritos), which means "without hypocrisy.” While others can fake their love, the love that comes from God is real and without ill motives.

Love is so essential that without it, even the most spiritually gifted person is fruitless and does not please God. While it's true that we should recognize our gifts and use them, if we fail to apply love in our exercise of gifts, we become heartless and un-Christian.

Paul moves on, saying believers must abhor (hate) evil. The word "abhor" comes from a Greek word that describes a strong dislike of something. The object of this intense dislike or hatred is not people but evil (sin). Due to our fallen nature, we find it challenging to hate sin. Instead, we hate the sinner. That's why we're filled with rage, hatred, and desire for revenge. But we should not allow evil to slither into our hearts. Instead, we should let God calibrate our minds according to His perfect will (Romans 12:2).

Finally, Paul commands the saints to cling to what is good. Jesus said, "Only God is good." We don't get to call what's good and what's evil; God does. For this reason, it is necessary to immerse ourselves in the Word of God and agree with what the Lord says about good and evil. His standards are perfect and unchanging. He sets the rules; we follow them.

Paul's quick commands may seem simple, but they are impossible to carry out without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, who works in us not only by bestowing us with spiritual gifts but also by producing His fruit in us, of which love is first and foremost.

Is your love for others genuine? Do you hate evil? Do you hold fast to what is good?

Pursue the Savior today!