Read Romans 12:9-21
Our love should be sincere, “without hypocrisy,” as Paul says. A hypocrite is an actor. He pretends to be what he is not. We are not to live in this way — merely pretending to love people, speaking to them kindly words while bitterness is in our heart. Our life must be as good as our speech, our heart as good as our profession.
If our love is to be without hypocrisy, we must “abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” God hates wickedness, hates everything that is sinful; if we would be like God we must hate sin. It is not enough to love what is right and to cleave to it. This is very important, but we must also abhor that which is evil. This does not mean that we are to hate wicked people, for we are taught to love all men — we are not to hate the people, but the wickedness, being ready meanwhile to show our love in kindness and helpfulness even to the worst. God hates sin, but loves the sinner and yearns for his salvation, doing everything to bring him back to right ways. In these days of tolerance we need to watch lest sometimes we be tolerant of things we ought to hate.
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