Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not think you are superior. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 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.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21 (TNIV)

Here Paul continues to flesh out what the Christian life looks like. We are to look out for each other, care for one another, resist the temptation to return tit-for-tat when we are wronged by others. We are to hate evil (not evil people). We are to meet people where they are. If they are hurting, we should hurt for and with them. If they are happy, we should by happy for and with them. Notice that in doing this, we are demonstrating our love for the other because we desire the best for them.

And why should we lead this kind of life? Because of the inexpressible gift of salvation given to us in Jesus Christ. This is faith in action. If we really do not believe that God has done the impossible for us in Christ, we will really not have any good reason to try to behave in these ways. Instead, because we are fallen, we will invariably tend to make it all about us, baby.

But when our faith speaks to us in a real way, we understand that we have been rescued from darkness and death and delivered into the Kingdom of Light. It is not our doing. It is God’s doing. Behaving as Christian does not ensure our salvation. Jesus Christ does. We simply behave as if we believe it.