Faith expressing itself through love
Paul states in Galatians 5:6, "For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith
working through love" (ESV). Up to this point in the book of Galatians,
Paul has painted a picture of what it looks like if one gives up their freedom
in Christ for bondage in sin. Once again in verses five and six, Paul focuses
on faith and how faith protects our freedom in Christ. Hansen (1994) states,
"Faith in Christ is the only way to protect our freedom in Christ"
(p.156-157). Paul tells the original
audience that what really matters is their union with Christ. It does not
matter if they are Jew, Gentile or any other social or racial group. Guzik
(2001) states,
In that place, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
avails anything - neither one matters
at all. You aren't better if you are circumcised or uncircumcised. You aren't
worse if you circumcised or
uncircumcised. The only harm is trusting in something that is completely irrelevant!” This still
applies to Christians today. Many Christians are divided in social or racial
groups. There is a big divide in their political beliefs. However, these
Christians need to remember that these divisions do not matter. What matters is
their union with Christ, not a union with these political groups or other
divisions among them. Paul then reveals that the only thing that counts is
faith working through love. What does Paul mean by faith working through love?
Hansen (1994) was right to say, "The only thing that
counts is faith expressing itself through love" (p.157). Martin Luther's
commentary retrieved from blue letter bible (2005) states, "Faith must of
course be sincere. It must be a faith that performs good works through love. If
faith lacks love it is not true faith." (p.1). A life of faith must be a
life of loving others. It must be genuine. Hansen (1994) shares, "Freedom
from the law does not leave our life without moral direction" (p.157). In
other words, just because we are not under the law and not obligated to the law
does not give us the right to live a life without morals. Hansen (1994) goes on
to say, "The evidence of true faith will be genuine love, for true faith
in Christ is inevitably expressed through love" (p.158). 1 John 4:7-12
states,
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God,
and whoever loves has been born of God
and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made
manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into
the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have
loved God but that he loved us and sent
his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one
another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." If we have the
Spirit in us then we should walk in the Spirit and if God is love then
therefore we should express our love and love His people. In Galatians 5:13-14,
Paul states, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use
your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one
another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.'” (ESV). Who is
our neighbor? Is it only people that look like us, act like us, think like us,
or believe like us? No, our neighbor is EVERYONE even the people that do not
look like us, act like us, think like us, or believe like us. 1 Corinthians 16:14
tells us, “Let all that you do be done in love” (ESV). Our faith must be
expressed in love! If we have true faith then we will love our neighbors as
ourselves (Galatians 5:14, ESV).
References
Guzik, D. (7 Jul, 2001).
Text Commentaries: David Guzik (Blue Letter Bible: Galatians). Retrieved from http://www.blueletterbible.org
Hansen, G.W. (1994).
Galatians: The IVP New Testament commentary series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Luther, M. (27 Jun,
2005). Text Commentaries: Martin Luther (Blue Letter Bible: Galatians). Retrieved from
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/luther_martin/Gal/Gal005.cfm
