What does it mean to let love be without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9)?

Answer

According to the apostle Paul, a distinguishing characteristic of genuine believers is to “let love be without hypocrisy” « Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. », (Romans 12:9, NKJV) because love and hypocrisy are incompatible attitudes.

The Greek term translated as “without hypocrisy” (anypokritos) portrays a love that is genuinely felt or expressed, not feigned. Christians are called to exhibit authentic love. “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them,” states Romans 12:9 in the New Living Translation.

In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul encourages all believers to “be filled with love that springs from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and sincere faith” (NLT). As per the apostle Peter, the believer’s pursuit of holiness necessitates loving one another deeply and earnestly: “You have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit for a genuine love of the brethren, so love one another fervently with a pure heart” «Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: », (1 Peter 1:22, NLT).

How can we practice genuine love without hypocrisy in our daily interactions with fellow believers? Authentic love is rooted in the nature of God, whose essence is love «He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. », (1 John 4:8,16) «And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. », (1 John 4:8,16). We demonstrate genuine love when we mirror God’s love as revealed through His Son. God illustrated how to live and love unconditionally through Jesus Christ.

Authentic love is unconditional. God loves us as we are. We didn’t need to change for Him to love us: “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” «But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. », (Romans 5:8, NLT). He loved us first, even though we didn’t merit His love (1 John 4:19;Ephesians 2:4-6). To mirror God’s love, we must love those who are undeserving, unloving, and rebellious, just as we were when God loved us initially. As nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39), we should not allow anything to hinder us from loving others «Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. », (Romans 13:8).

Love without hypocrisy is sacrificial. “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters” «Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. », (1 John 3:16, NLT). Genuine love means desiring the best for those we love. If we notice a brother or sister in need, we strive to fulfill that need. Love without hypocrisy demonstrates itself not only “with words or speech but

With actions and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18; see also 3 John 1:5-6).

Love without hypocrisy is humble. Scripture teaches us to treat others better than we want to be treated ourselves: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Paul calls us to “serve one another humbly in love” «For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. », (Galatians 5:13). Jesus taught us in His great Sermon on the Mount to turn the other cheek when we’ve been wronged (Matthew 5:38-42) and even love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48).

Love without hypocrisy abides by God’s Word (John 14:15; 2 John 1:6). Jesus Christ, motivated by love, left His home in glory to obey His Father’s call to come and live among us and suffer and die on the cross to save us (Philippians 2:6-8). He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (John 15:9-10).

The Word of God and the life of Jesus Christ reveal a complete and enduring picture of how we let love be without hypocrisy. Perhaps the richestThe most detailed description is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4–8: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!” (NLT).