Romans 12:9 — Let Love Be Genuine
In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul begins explaining how theology translates into practical Christian living. Starting in verse 9, Paul gives us a list of what could be called “Christian living proverbs.” At first glance, some of these statements may feel like “duh” truths, but for the early church in Rome, they were revolutionary. If we take the time to really examine them, we’ll find that these foundational truths are just as relevant for Christians today.
The first instruction Paul gives is simple yet profound: “Let love be genuine.”
Love is the most important trait a Christian can possess. Jesus emphasized the importance of love in John 13:35 when He said we would be known as His followers by how we love one another. Paul echoed this in 1 Corinthians 13 when he wrote that all Christian service is meaningless without love. In 1 John 4:8, John goes even further, telling us that if we do not love, we do not know God. It is safe to say that love is central to the Christian life.
Before we can live this out, we must first define what love really is. In Western culture, love is often described as a feeling one person has for another. That feeling can range from familial affection to strong romantic emotions. Love is applauded in our society, yet it is also treated as disposable. People fall out of love just as easily as they fall into it.
Biblical love, however, is very different. The Greek word used here is agape. While it was rarely used in Greek literature, it is the primary word used in the New Testament to describe love. Agape love is unconditional and sacrificial—a sharp contrast to our modern understanding of love. Even at our best, human love has limits.
This is what makes biblical love so countercultural. God the Father gives us the ultimate example of this kind of love by sending Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin (John 3:16). Our sin was fully known to Him before Jesus ever went to the cross, and yet He still gave His life for us (Romans 5:8). That is truly amazing. No one else would do that, because in our flesh, our love always has a breaking point.
This is why Paul doesn’t simply tell us to love—he tells us to love genuinely. In the NKJV, this phrase is translated as “without hypocrisy.” In other words, we cannot just say that we love others. Love cannot be reduced to empty words or polite platitudes. Genuine love must be lived out. It is demonstrated through service, sacrifice, and sincere care for others. The implications of this command reach into every area of our lives.
One clear example is forgiveness. Genuine love doesn’t mean simply saying the words, “I forgive you.” It means actually forgiving—refusing to hold a grudge and choosing not to bring the offense up again. Another example is found in how we serve others. Many of us are so accustomed to minding our own business and focusing on what we believe is important that we forget to consider what others are going through. Genuine love takes notice. It asks how we can help. Sometimes that help looks like a simple act of kindness, a listening ear, or a heartfelt prayer.
The reality is that genuine love shows itself in many ways and in many situations. So how are we living this out? Take a moment to reflect on the past few days. Have you shown genuine love to your family? What about fellow church members? Your coworkers? Your neighbors?
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that love is the greatest virtue—greater even than faith and hope. Let us, then, make it our aim to let our love be genuine in all that we do.
