Romans 12:9-17
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ? Here in Romans Paul lays out a fairly good list of attributes that would mark you as a disciple of Christ. We are asked to be like this by God, gracious and merciful, loving and kind. It sounds like a lot to remember and if you have to rely on memory to perform these duties, then you’ve failed before you began.
The very first line quoted says love without hypocrisy. Love sincerely. The word translated love here is agape, God’s perfect love. It is not any other type of love it is the love that dwells in your heart, Christ in you. If you have to think about it, it isn’t agape. Agape loves because that is who He is in character and performance. He doesn’t have to think about who He is.
Satan wants to get into your head about your qualifications to be a disciple. Here is the qualifications to be a disciple; you had to have failed as a human being. What I was does not disqualify me, it qualifies me.