LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS (28 OF 34)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Romans 12:9-21
This content is part of a series.
Love Without Limits (28 of 34)
Series: Good News from God
Keith Krell
Romans 12:9-21
How do you want to be remembered? Reflect on that question for just a moment. Imagine that you have passed away and are able to be a heavenly spectator at your own funeral. What would your pastor be able to say about your life? More importantly, what would people from church, work, and your neighborhood say about you? What would your family and friends say? What would you want them to say? When your life is all said and done, I believe that you will want to be remembered as a loving person. You won't wish that you had spent more time at work. You won't wish you would have made more money. You won't wish that you would have had a nicer home. You won't wish you could have played more golf or purchased nicer clothes. You will wish that you had loved people with God's love.
Rom 12:9-21 is a practical "how-to" guide on God-like love. In this passage Paul demonstrates that love is an action not an emotion. Consequently, you can love those who are unlovely and unlovable. You can even love your enemy or persecutor. Paul's thesis is simple: Love without action is not love. This text calls for two radical, yet biblical displays of love.
1. Display sacrificial love (12:9-16). In 12:9a Paul writes, "Let love be without hypocrisy." These are unusual opening words because they are not linked to anything in the previous context, and there is no verb in the Greek. If you notice in the NASB the words "Let" and "be" are in italics. This means that these words are not a part of the original Greek; rather, the translators, for clarity, supplied them. Paul literally says, "Love without hypocrisy" or "Sincere love!" These words serve as the title or heading for the entire passage. Paul assumes that you will manifest "love" (agape); however, he wants to ensure that your love is free from hypocrisy. The word "hypocrisy" was used in the Greek world of the actor who wore masks to portray ...
Series: Good News from God
Keith Krell
Romans 12:9-21
How do you want to be remembered? Reflect on that question for just a moment. Imagine that you have passed away and are able to be a heavenly spectator at your own funeral. What would your pastor be able to say about your life? More importantly, what would people from church, work, and your neighborhood say about you? What would your family and friends say? What would you want them to say? When your life is all said and done, I believe that you will want to be remembered as a loving person. You won't wish that you had spent more time at work. You won't wish you would have made more money. You won't wish that you would have had a nicer home. You won't wish you could have played more golf or purchased nicer clothes. You will wish that you had loved people with God's love.
Rom 12:9-21 is a practical "how-to" guide on God-like love. In this passage Paul demonstrates that love is an action not an emotion. Consequently, you can love those who are unlovely and unlovable. You can even love your enemy or persecutor. Paul's thesis is simple: Love without action is not love. This text calls for two radical, yet biblical displays of love.
1. Display sacrificial love (12:9-16). In 12:9a Paul writes, "Let love be without hypocrisy." These are unusual opening words because they are not linked to anything in the previous context, and there is no verb in the Greek. If you notice in the NASB the words "Let" and "be" are in italics. This means that these words are not a part of the original Greek; rather, the translators, for clarity, supplied them. Paul literally says, "Love without hypocrisy" or "Sincere love!" These words serve as the title or heading for the entire passage. Paul assumes that you will manifest "love" (agape); however, he wants to ensure that your love is free from hypocrisy. The word "hypocrisy" was used in the Greek world of the actor who wore masks to portray ...
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