After laying a profound theological foundation in the first 11 chapters of Romans, Paul pivots to the practical implications of the Gospel in our daily lives. In Romans 12:9-13, Paul challenges us to embody the Gospel in every aspect of our behavior and interactions. This transformation is not just internal — it is about how we engage with the world, reflecting Christ in our humility, how we view and treat fellow believers, and in our stewardship of our spiritual gifts.
The focus is on how these changes enhance our relationships. Paul emphasizes that while our faith is deeply personal, it is far from private. Our spiritual gifts, for instance, are not meant to be hoarded or displayed in isolation. Instead, they are to be actively used in community, contributing to the collective strength and unity of the church. As we explore how Paul instructs us to use our gifts in the context of love, it is clear that our actions towards one another should not only reflect our faith but should be driven by it. Love, as Paul outlines, is not just a feeling but an active, engaging force that must permeate every interaction within the community of believers.
1. Love Genuinely
In Romans 12, Paul dives into the core attributes that should characterize every believer, starting with the most foundational: genuine love. When Paul instructs us to “love without hypocrisy,” he’s addressing something deeper than mere actions; he’s speaking to the heart of our motivation. This call challenges us to examine the sincerity of our love, ensuring it springs from a place of authenticity, not performance.
The concept of love as performance is rebuked by Jesus, especially in His interactions with the Pharisees. They embodied hypocrisy — outwardly performing acts of righteousness to gain human admiration rather than to honor God. The Greek term for hypocrite, hypokrites, originally referred to actors who wore masks and performed on stage. Their faith actions are like a theatrical show designed for the applause of an audience rather than for the pleasure of God. This type of performative faith is precisely what Paul warns against. True Christian love is not about how we appear to others; it is about how deeply we connect to Christ Himself.
Jesus described genuine love as sacrificial and selfless. He did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). If your acts of love are performed to be seen, they lose their value in the eyes of God. True love must be free from self-congratulation and must not seek personal gain. How, then, can we ensure our love is genuine? It begins with an internal examination and a commitment to align our actions with our faith without the facade. It means loving others not for accolades or social media likes, but because Christ’s love compels us. When we spend time with Christ, immersing ourselves in His presence, our actions naturally overflow from this relationship. It is this connection to Christ that enables us to love authentically.
2. Love Rightly
To love rightly is to abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. This is not just a suggestion — it is a directive that shapes the way Christians are meant to interact with the world. To love rightly, we must recognize the brokenness of the world through the lens of Christ. As we see the injustice, the suffering, and the sin that pervades society, it will demand a response. Abhorring evil means more than just avoiding wrongdoing; it means actively opposing it. Paul’s language is clear and forceful: evil must be rejected entirely.
Conversely, clinging to what is good involves a deliberate effort to uphold and embrace godly virtues. It is an active pursuit of righteousness, one that fills the void left by the things we abhor. To cling to what is good is to anchor oneself in the practices and principles that reflect God’s nature. It is about making a conscious decision every day to embrace actions and thoughts that build up rather than tear down. Loving rightly also requires introspection and accountability. It is about recognizing the evil within ourselves and ruthlessly rooting it out. Paul uses vivid language in Romans 8:13, advocating for a metaphorical ‘killing’ of sinful behaviors through the power of the Spirit.
When it comes to seeing evil in others, our approach must be tempered with compassion. Remembering that we were once “dead in trespasses and sins” helps us approach others with a desire to see them transformed by the same power that changed us. This means addressing sin not only for the sake of righteousness but also for the restoration of the sinner. Ultimately, loving rightly means holding fast to Christ, the epitome of all that is good. In a world that often encourages us to grasp tightly to material things, Paul reminds us to hold loosely to the things of this world and cling to Jesus. This ensures that our actions and reactions are not only correct but are also reflective of deep spiritual truth.
3. Love Honorably
In Romans 12:10, Paul emphasizes that we must honor one another. This directive is about elevating our interactions to reflect a deep, familial connection that Paul compares to the affection between siblings. True, sibling relationships can be fraught with conflicts, but underlying those conflicts there is often a profound bond — a steadfast affection that Paul urges us to emulate within the Christian community. Honoring each other in brotherly love means recognizing and treating each other as members of God’s family. Paul’s message is clear: as believers, our actions and interactions should deepen the bonds within our spiritual family.
Paul introduces a competitive element to this call for honor. He does not just want us to honor each other; he wants us to strive to “outdo one another in showing honor.” This isn’t about fostering rivalry or feeding personal pride; rather, it is about inspiring a community where everyone is zealously seeking ways to uplift and affirm one another. It is a holy competition, where the prize is the mutual upbuilding of the church. Honoring one another might look like recognizing and affirming each other’s contributions, regardless of how small or large they are. It involves celebrating each other’s successes as if they were our own and bearing each other’s burdens with empathetic and compassionate hearts.
When a church embraces this level of honor, it does not just impact the internal dynamics of the community; it serves as a powerful witness to the outside world. People are drawn to environments where they see genuine care and respect in action. They are touched by the sight of individuals going out of their way to honor others, not for personal gain but simply because it is the Christ-like thing to do.
4. Love Eagerly
Paul’s message in Romans 12:11, “Do not lag in diligence, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord,” encapsulates the essence of loving eagerly. This is not just about avoiding laziness in our daily tasks; it is a profound call to vibrancy and zeal in our spiritual lives. Loving eagerly is about channeling our energy and passion into our relationship with God and, by extension, into our relationships with others. Just as we set goals and establish routines in our professional lives to foster success, Paul challenges us to apply the same principles to our spiritual disciplines. This includes setting tangible goals for prayer, Bible study, and other spiritual practices that keep us connected to Christ.
Being fervent in spirit means possessing a zeal for Christlikeness that influences every area of our life. It is about prioritizing our spiritual well-being over earthly accomplishments. This fervor is not a fleeting emotion but a sustained passion to live in close communion with Jesus. Here are 4 practical steps to loving eagerly:
- Prioritize Time with Jesus
- Incorporate Spiritual Practices
- Serve with Joy and Not Duty
- Embrace Spiritual Accountability
To love eagerly as Paul describes is to actively pursue a relationship with Christ that transforms every aspect of our lives. It is about allowing the fervor of our spirit to energize our actions, ensuring that our service is an authentic expression of our love for God and for those He calls us to serve.
5. Love With Hope
In Romans 12:12, wishful thinking or a fleeting optimism but a steadfast assurance rooted in the promises of God. It is the confident expectation that despite the trials and tribulations of this world, there is a divine plan at work leading to eternal salvation and glory. This hope is not passive; it actively influences how we live, how we serve, and how we love.
Paul emphasizes that this hope allows us to rejoice even in the midst of difficulties. True joy stems from the understanding that our current struggles are temporary and that they contribute to a greater purpose. This joy is a deep-seated contentment that pervades even the darkest moments because it is anchored in something unshakeable — the victory of Jesus over sin and death.
Loving with hope also means maintaining a resilient spirit in the face of adversity. It teaches us to view our trials through the lens of what Christ endured and overcame. Reflecting on Jesus’ sufferings helps believers recognize that their own sufferings are not in vain but are part of a larger, redemptive story. Just as Christ’s sufferings led to His ultimate glorification, our trials refine our faith and lead us to spiritual maturity. Another aspect of loving with hope is the ability to endure hardships patiently. This patience is not a resigned acceptance but an active, courageous stance that confronts difficulties head-on, knowing that God’s strength sustains us. It is about persevering through challenges, not because we are unaffected by pain, but because our hope informs us that God is faithful to see us through.
Prayer is the mechanism through which we communicate with God, express our fears, share our hopes, and receive His comfort and guidance. It is through prayer that our hope is nourished and renewed. As believers, we are called to be relentless in prayer, bringing everything before God, knowing that He is both willing and able to act on our behalf. Here are 4 practical ways we can cultivate hope in our daily lives:
- Regularly Read Scripture
- Maintain a Vibrant Prayer Life
- Lean on the church community
- Serve Others
6. Love Generously
In the final exploration of how to live out Christian love, Paul emphasizes the call to love generously in Romans 12:13. Generosity, as Paul outlines, invariably involves sacrifice. To love others as Christ loves us means that we must be willing to invest both our time and our financial resources. It is a tangible expression of where our priorities lie, mirroring Jesus’ teaching that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). This form of love is not about minimal compliance or reluctant giving but about a heartfelt, sacrificial pouring out of our lives into others.
Time is a precious commodity. In a world that moves fast and values productivity, choosing to spend time with someone can be a significant expression of love. It is about engagement and the forging of genuine connections. Building relationships takes time, effort, and patience, but it is through these relationships that the fabric of the church community is strengthened. Financial generosity is equally important. It reflects a willingness to support the broader mission of the church and to ensure that the practical needs of the community are met. This might mean supporting church initiatives, helping those in financial distress, or funding mission work. It is a direct application of faith into the functioning and well-being of the church body.
Paul emphasizes the importance of hospitality, not as an occasional gesture but as a proactive pursuit. True hospitality involves more than just opening our doors when asked; it is about seeking out opportunities to welcome and serve others. It is an active extension of generosity, inviting others into our lives and homes, thus creating spaces where relationships can flourish and where the Gospel can be lived out in real and meaningful ways. Generosity is not just an action but a state of heart. It is about seeing everything we have — our time, resources, and homes — as tools given by God to serve others and spread His love.
