Love is the gospel made visible! In Romans 12, Paul audaciously invites us to consider the church as an embodiment, a place where this can be seen and found. When the body of Christ is functioning as it should, it is the most visible, tangible picture of the gospel on earth. And according to Paul, the defining mark of the church is genuine love.
Love is the gospel made visible.
But as Haddaway melodically asks, “What is love?” The world has an answer for us, and it tends to be the vague clichéd sentimentality that almost every romcom depicts. Scripture would rather call us to “genuine love” (Romans 12:9). But this isn’t whatever we want it to be. The world’s version is often:
- Subjective, defined by our feelings in the moment
- Conditional, extended only to those we approve of
- Self-focused, aimed at what we can get, not what we can give.
These diluted and deformed expressions seep into the church, if we aren’t careful. We may affirm “God is love,” but fill that truth with our own definitions. Paul’s command cuts through that as genuine love must be shaped by God’s character and God’s ways.
It’s Something You Should See
Romans 12:9-13 isn’t an abstract meditation. It’s a practical checklist. Hate evil. Cling to good. Care like family. Outdo one another in showing honour. Serve with zeal. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Give generously to meet needs.
Love is active, visible, and unmistakable.
These commands cover every sphere of church life: doctrine, relationships, service, endurance, and generosity. What Paul describes isn’t hidden in our hearts—it is active, visible, and unmistakable.
A Love That Hates
The first mark of genuine love might sound strange. “Abhor what is evil.” How does hate fit here? There’s a tension to hold.
Love rejects sin while embracing the sinner.
Because God’s love is holy. To love someone is to oppose what destroys them. To hate evil is to take God’s side against sin—in the world, in the church, and in ourselves. This is not harshness for its own sake; it is the refusal to make peace with what God has condemned. It’s to reject sin while embracing the sinner. It refuses to excuse wrongdoing, but equally refuses to write people off.
The church that loves genuinely will be quick to repent, restore, and protect one another from the deceitfulness of sin (Galatians 6:1-2).
A Love That Honours
In Romans 12:10, Paul urges believers to “outdo one another in showing honour.” Imagine that—a rivalry not for recognition, but for giving recognition. In a world where status is hoarded, the church is called to give it away.
Rivalry not for recognition. But for giving recognition.
This kind of honour isn’t based on merit or preference. It is rooted in the reality that every believer is united to Christ. Even the brother or sister you find difficult is worthy of honour because Jesus has bought them with his blood.
A Love with Zeal
Paul warns against being “slothful in zeal.” What does one make of this within the context of genuine love? Could it be that because it’s possible for our love to grow weary, to become a matter of habit rather than joy? Genuine love resists this drift. It stays fervent—not through sheer willpower, but by serving “the Lord” (Romans 12:11).
When our lives are ultimately directed to Christ, even the most mundane service gains eternal significance (Colossians 3:23-24).
An Enduring Love
Romans 12:12 ties love to hope, patience, and prayer. That is, it lasts through disappointment, misunderstanding, and hardship. It’s the friend who keeps praying for you long after others have moved on. It’s the church member who quietly endures trial without giving up on community.
Enduring love is profoundly countercultural.
In a culture that treats relationships as disposable, enduring love is profoundly countercultural.
A Love That Gives
Finally, Paul reminds us that love is a giving word: “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13). This echoes the generosity of the early church, where “there was not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34).
Genuine love costs something.
Genuine love is practical. It opens its wallet, its home, and its schedule. It meets needs in ways that cost something.
Why Does This Matter?
The world is watching. Jesus said that love for one another would be the hallmark of his disciples (John 13:35). When the church lives this out, it becomes a living apologetic—a visible sign that the gospel is true. Without love, the church’s message loses credibility; with love, the gospel becomes irresistible.
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