“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
avails anything, but faith working through love”
– Galatians 5:6 –
Neither legalism nor license leads us to the right path. It is not our works that earn us the right to heaven, but our works show what the quality of our faith is. Paul said that it is “faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6). Circumcision or uncircumcision can make you a slave, but for those of us who trust in Jesus and allow Him to direct our actions, His love leads us to the “trio” that guides our existence: faith, hope, and love.
Thus, true love does not create its own rules, but is expressed in obedience to the will of God. Faith has its works motivated by the pure love of the presence of Christ in us. God’s love and will do not create a saving faith in us; it is saving faith that creates love in action.
A very famous writer told us that when we speak about faith, we must always keep one distinction in mind. Belief is one thing, and that differs from faith. For example, the existence and power of God, the truth of His Word, are facts that even satan and his hosts cannot deny. The Scriptures say that “the demons believe – and tremble” (James 2:19), but this is not faith.
Faith is believing that God exists;
faith is submitting to His will; faith is surrendering
our hearts and affections to God.
[A] faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God. An the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Steps to Christ, p. 63).
The faith that saves is a living, active, and working faith. Salvation is a gift from God, the fruit of His love and compassion for us; in gratitude, we return the warmest affection of our hearts. Spurgeon explained that when Jesus is everything to us, He is the Lord of our hearts. Faith, instead of being a poor and miserable thing, as some think, is the greatest cause of love, and therefore, of obedience and holiness.
May our faith be so real that for the love of Christ and for Christ,
it produces the best and abundant fruits.
May the Lord bless you…