Seven Mile Road Church — Romans 12:9-11 // How To Love (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Romans 12 9 11? ›

In verses 9-11 he begins a long list of characteristics that mark the Christian life as we seek to serve one another. First and foremost on this list is love. In order to live lives marked by God's transforming grace, we must love one another with fervency. After all, we have been fervently loved by God in Christ.

These seven things are simple but meaningful ways we can demonstrate our love and appreciation for God that will speak volumes to Him personally: giving Him praise, praying to Him, reading the Bible, loving those around us, tithing, fasting, and being hopeful.

Paul echoes something similar in Romans 13:8-10. Here in 12:9, Paul assumes that his audience knows that they are to love; he exhorts them to make their love for each other genuine. Paul begins this section of 12:9-13 with the exhortation to “let love be genuine” (verse 9), and then shows what this love looks like.

We shed self-interest. His brand of love sees beyond the normal range of human vision – over walls of resentment and barriers of betrayal. When we love like Jesus we rise above petty demands and snobbish entitlement. We loosen our tightfisted anxiety and relax in a surplus of benevolence.

The surprising answer is this: what Paul says in the three following chapters, in Romans 9-11. To grasp what these long-neglected and often misinterpreted chapters are about, recall the major theme of Romans: God's unending faithfulness to his promises. God is faithful to us in spite of our unfaithfulness to him.

We read in the CSB translation of Romans 12:9–10, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.” Love, it says, must not be hypocritical or fake.

Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 NIV). All my soul. All my mind. All my heart.

Obeying God, keeping his commands, worshiping him and praying to him are practical, everyday ways how to love God. God loves you so much and desires your love back. Our love for God should drive us; strive to love him and you will have an abundant life.

In the previous verse, Paul commanded Christians to seek to outdo each other in showing honor to one another. Now he writes that we must not be lazy in our enthusiasm. The two commands may well be related. Paul is urging us to be energetic in our attempts to give honor to each other.

What does Romans say about love? ›

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves.

Don't repay with evil, but be honorable in the sight of all. Consider how to act honorably instead of retaliating. Think beforehand to give honor, not to do to others what they have done to you. As it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Scripture. 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a (ESV) Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

John 13:34 in Other Translations

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

While Paul styles himself the “apostle to the Gentiles,” in these three chapters he seems preoccupied with the Jews' destiny, insisting that only the infusion of Christian ranks by Gentiles will induce all Jews also, eventually, to come to Christ.

Romans 12 begins by asking the question, ''Since He owed us nothing and has given us great mercy, how should we respond? '' The answer is a life of self-sacrificing worship spent in serving the Lord and other believers, refusing revenge and overcoming evil with good.

Hate evil, cling to good.

We should have a holy hatred for everything that is evil. We cannot take joy in evil. We must hold on tightly to the things that are good. Paul is calling for a total commitment to what is good and a total rejection to what is evil.