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Romans 12:1-8
DO NOT CONFORM TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD - Jun 21, 2023 -
Romans 12:9-21
LOVE MUST BE SINCERE - Feb 05, 2020 -
Romans 12:1-8
OUR SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP - Feb 04, 2020 -
Romans 12:1-2
LIVING SACRIFICES - Jan 01, 2000 -
Romans 12:3-8
ONE BODY, MANY MEMBERS - Jan 01, 2000 -
Romans 12:9-21
SINCERE LOVE - Jan 01, 2000
LOVE MUST BE SINCERE
Key verse: 9
NIV
Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere.(A) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.(B) 10 Be devoted to one another in love.(C) Honor one another above yourselves.(D) 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(E) serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,(F) patient in affliction,(G) faithful in prayer.(H) 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.(I) Practice hospitality.(J)
14 Bless those who persecute you;(K) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.(L) 16 Live in harmony with one another.(M) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.(N)
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(O) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(P) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(Q) 19 Do not take revenge,(R) my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b](S) says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”[c](T)
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Footnotes
- Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work
- Romans 12:19 Deut. 32:35
- Romans 12:20 Prov. 25:21,22
Cross references
- Romans 12:9 : 2Co 6:6; 1Ti 1:5
- Romans 12:9 : Ps 97:10; Am 5:15; 1Th 5:21, 22
- Romans 12:10 : Ps 133:1; 1Th 4:9; Heb 13:1; 1Pe 1:22
- Romans 12:10 : Php 2:3
- Romans 12:11 : Ac 18:25
- Romans 12:12 : Ro 5:2
- Romans 12:12 : Heb 10:32, 36
- Romans 12:12 : S Lk 18:1
- Romans 12:13 : S Ac 24:17
- Romans 12:13 : 2Ki 4:10; Job 31:32; 1Ti 3:2; 5:10; Heb 13:2; 1Pe 4:9
- Romans 12:14 : S Mt 5:44
- Romans 12:15 : Job 30:25
- Romans 12:16 : S Ro 15:5
- Romans 12:16 : ver 3; Ps 131:1; Isa 5:21; Jer 45:5; Ro 11:25
- Romans 12:17 : ver 19; Pr 20:22; 24:29
- Romans 12:17 : 2Co 8:21
- Romans 12:18 : S Mk 9:50; S Ro 14:19
- Romans 12:19 : ver 17; Lev 19:18; Pr 20:22; 24:29
- Romans 12:19 : Dt 32:35; Ge 50:19; 1Sa 26:10; Ps 94:1; Jer 51:36
- Romans 12:20 : Pr 25:21, 22; Ex 23:4; Mt 5:44; Lk 6:27
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Marks of the True Christian
9 (A)Let love be genuine. (B)Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 (C)Love one another with brotherly affection. (D)Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, (E)be fervent in spirit,[a] (F)serve the Lord. 12 (G)Rejoice in hope, (H)be patient in tribulation, (I)be constant in prayer. 13 (J)Contribute to the needs of the saints and (K)seek to show hospitality.
14 (L)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 (M)Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 (N)Live in harmony with one another. (O)Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[b] (P)Never be wise in your own sight. 17 (Q)Repay no one evil for evil, but (R)give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, (S)live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, (T)never avenge yourselves, but leave it[c] to the wrath of God, for it is written, (U)“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, (V)“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Romans 12:11 Or fervent in the Spirit
- Romans 12:16 Or give yourselves to humble tasks
- Romans 12:19 Greek give place
Cross references
- Romans 12:9 : 2 Cor. 6:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:22
- Romans 12:9 : Ps. 97:10; 101:3; Amos 5:15; [1 Thess. 5:21, 22]
- Romans 12:10 : See Heb. 13:1
- Romans 12:10 : ch. 13:7; Phil. 2:3; 1 Pet. 2:17
- Romans 12:11 : Acts 18:25
- Romans 12:11 : Acts 20:19
- Romans 12:12 : See ch. 5:2
- Romans 12:12 : See Heb. 10:36
- Romans 12:12 : See Acts 1:14
- Romans 12:13 : ch. 15:25; 1 Cor. 16:1, 15; 2 Cor. 9:1, 12; Heb. 6:10; 13:16; [1 Tim. 6:18]
- Romans 12:13 : See Matt. 25:35
- Romans 12:14 : See Matt. 5:44; 1 Pet. 3:9
- Romans 12:15 : 1 Cor. 12:26; [Job 30:25; Heb. 13:3]
- Romans 12:16 : ch. 15:5; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 2:2; 4:2; 1 Pet. 3:8
- Romans 12:16 : ver. 3; Ps. 131:1; Jer. 45:5
- Romans 12:16 : ch. 11:25; Prov. 3:7
- Romans 12:17 : Prov. 20:22; Matt. 5:39; [ch. 14:19]
- Romans 12:17 : 2 Cor. 8:21; [ch. 14:16]
- Romans 12:18 : See Mark 9:50
- Romans 12:19 : Prov. 20:22; Matt. 5:39; [ch. 14:19]
- Romans 12:19 : Heb. 10:30; Cited from Deut. 32:35; [Ps. 94:1; 1 Thess. 4:6]
- Romans 12:20 : Cited from Prov. 25:21, 22; [Ex. 23:4, 5; 2 Kgs. 6:22; Luke 6:27]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Paul starts this passage saying love must be sincere. What love is most sincere? The love of God who sent his son Jesus is most sincere. The love of Jesus, who died on the cross for our sin, is most sincere. We now must practice the love of Jesus for others. We should love others. Some of the practical application mentioned are to practice hospitality and bless those who persecute you. Sometimes our Bible students do not respond to our calls, even after studying with us and being served for many years. We should still love them with the love of Jesus. In this world, the barrier of race, ethnicity, culture, wealth, and social status all divide people. It is hard to love one another. But Jesus loved us and died on the cross for our sins while we were still sinners.
Paul also says hate what is evil. Hating the devil’s work and what is evil is important and crucial. We need to actively cut off and hate evil. Otherwise, the devil can easily make room in our heart. Before we know it, we may be already following the plan and scheme of evil. Only when we hate what is evil can we cut off the devil’s influence from our lives.
Prayer: Lord, please help us to practice the love of Jesus he had shown on the cross. Help us to actively fight against evil and hate evil so we may not fall into temptation.
One Word: Love must be sincere, hate what is evil.