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Let<\/em><\/strong><\/span> <\/span>love <\/span>be<\/em> <\/span>without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Here is the evidence of a living sacrifice.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cwithout hypocrisy<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word anupokritos<\/em><\/span>, which is a compound word made up of a<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cwithout\u201d and a form of hupokrinomai<\/em> <\/span>(from which we get our English word, hypocrite), meaning \u201cto pretend\u201d or \u201cto put on a false front.\u201d This word originally referred to the art of acting on a stage. An actor portrays someone other than who he or she truly is and that is the salient meaning of the word hypocrite.<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201cabhor<\/span>\u201d is apostuge\u014d<\/em><\/span>. This is another compound word made up of apo<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cfrom\u201d but often used as an intensifier, and stuge\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto hate, abhor, or detest with horror.\u201d It expresses an extremely strong hatred for something.<\/p>\n \u201cEvil<\/span>\u201d is from pon\u0113ros<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201cthat which is bad or evil in effect or influence.\u201d There is a similar Greek word, kakos<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201cthat which is bad or evil in character.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCling<\/span>\u201d is from kolla\u014d<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cto be glued to something.\u201d And the word translated \u201cgood\u201d is agathos<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cthat which is good or beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul started out this chapter telling us that we need to completely surrender ourselves to God as living sacrifices to be used in His service as He chooses. He then told us that we should have a humble opinion of ourselves because we are all members of the body of Christ (the church) and that we each have gifts which we are to be using as members of that body. Having talked about some of the gifts, he now goes on to tell us what a living sacrifice should look like to others.<\/p>\n He says, \u201cLet<\/em> <\/span>love <\/span>be<\/em> <\/span>without hypocrisy.<\/span>\u201d Our love should be sincere and not done as an act to try to convince people that we are different than we really are.<\/p>\n Paul also says that we should \u201cabhor what is evil.<\/span>\u201d In other words, we should hate that which has an evil effect or that which produces evil with as much emotion and force as that with which we love God.<\/p>\n This is a verse that all Christians would do well to follow. It seems that we have become soft and we tend to tolerate evil without saying much about it. When we see someone do something evil, we should not turn around and forget about it, we should be filled with indignation and absolutely hate the evil act. Incidentally, even though we should hate the sin, we need to love the sinner.<\/p>\n Finally, Paul says that we should be \u201cglued to that which is good.<\/span>\u201d \u00a0When two things are glued together, they are inseparable. That\u2019s how we should be – inseparable from things which are good.<\/p>\n These are three key characteristics of Christians who are committed to God, who have placed themselves on the altar as living sacrifices. Their love is genuine, they absolutely hate that which is evil, and they are good through and through.<\/p>\n Is that how others see you?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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