LET LOVE BE WITHOUT DISSIMULATION

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Quite often bible translators use words that were prevalent during the time the translation was made, but are not widely used today. Word meanings also change from one age to another. Sometimes long, multi-syllable words are used that are infrequently found in day-to-day language. Some translated words have vague meanings, and are even difficult to pronounce. In either instance, further definition is necessary to arrive at the true meaning in some passages in the bible. "Dissimulation" is such a word. The word "love," also has several meanings, but is generally understood.

However, if we read a few following verses, we know that Paul is teaching a lesson about "brotherly love." Here, and in many other places in God's word, love is described by telling us what brotherly love is to be, and what it is not to be. In the lesson text, Paul tells us that brotherly love, to be what God wants of His children, is to be exhibited in the life of each Christian without dissimulation. Good definitions of dissimulation are pretence, deception, and hypocrisy - something that is fraudulent, counterfeit, unreal or not genuine. These are words having meanings that should never be associated with brotherly love. God wants, even demands, that the love demonstrated by a Christian to others, is always to be real, genuine, and from the heart.

The apostle, John tells us how great the love of God is for mankind. Recognizing that the people He created, all human beings, need forgiveness of sins in order to be saved, God sacrificed His Son, Jesus Christ, as an atonement for our sins that we might be reconciled to Him and have the hope of eternal salvation. It is this unselfish, genuine love that Christians are to emulate in their own lives toward others. Seeing someone in need, we are not to withhold our compassion, but fill that need to the best of our ability. By such unselfish actions, we demonstrate brotherly love as God requires of all Christians. The fact that we are to let love be without dissimulation, John puts into different words that have the same meaning. He gives us this admonition: My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (See 1 John 3:15-19). Sincere, genuine brotherly love was, and still is, required of all Christians by Jesus Christ, Himself. Jesus said all are to abide in His (God's) love. This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (See John 15:9-13).

Paul also teaches, in the lesson text, that Christians are to abhor that which is evil; (and to) cleave to that which is good. Evil, in its broad sense, encompasses all sin known to mankind. However, since it follows this specific teaching on love, it probably means the opposite of love, which has a more narrow meaning. Christians are to hate all sorts of malice or unkindness, but firmly hold on to, and practice, all things that demonstrate goodness. The psalmist wrote that children of God are to depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it (Psalm 34:14). Likewise, to the Thessalonians, Paul gave this admonition: Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:21-22).

When one becomes a child of God, through obedient baptism into the body of Christ, they immediately assume a great debt. That debt is love, and it is due and payable by every Christian. It is a debt that no other person can pay for us. All deeds, all good works, that are performed out of love, by our father, mother, brother or sister, wife, children, etc., can never satisfy our own personal debt of love. Love is an individual obligation. It is a debt that can only be paid by giving it away. And the only way that our love is to be given away, that is acceptable to our God, is without dissimulation. It must be real and genuine.Love must be given freely, without any strings attached. It must never be given begrudgingly, but willingly.

Jesus sums up love, as God requires of all Christians. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40). To say we love God, and to say that we love our fellow man, does not discharge our debt of love. We prove our love for God with charitable deeds of love for our neighbor - our fellow man. There is no other way to settle our debt of love. Romans 12:10 says that we are to be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; and let it be without dissimulation.