FAITH WORKING

Galatians 5:6 (ESV) — 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 5:6 ESV

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

I. THINGS THAT COUNT

Galatians 5:6 (ESV) — 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 5:6 ESV

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

1 Corinthians 7:19 (ESV) — 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

1 Corinthians 7:19 ESV

19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Galatians 6:15 (ESV) — 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Galatians 6:15 ESV

15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) — 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

II. FAITH WORKING THROUGH LOVE

Galatians 5:4–6 (ESV) — 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 5:4–6 ESV

4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Paul describes this faith as “taking effect through love,” by which he means that the replacement of circumcision and uncircumcision with faith destroys this physically divisive difference between Jews and Gentiles and thus effects the prevalence of love in Christian churches[1]

The faith that alone justifies is never alone, however. True faith is always a working faith, a faith that works. It is an expressive faith, a faith that expresses itself in love to God and to others. As Luther said, “He who wants to be a true Christian or to belong to the kingdom of Christ must be truly a believer. But he does not truly believe if works of love do not follow his faith.”16 Love is the outworking of genuine faith.[2]

John 14:21 (ESV) — 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14:21 ESV

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Romans 13:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 13:8–10 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Galatians 6:2 (ESV) — 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 ESV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

[1] Gundry, R. H. (2010). Commentary on the New Testament: Verse-by-Verse Explanations with a Literal Translation (p. 749). Hendrickson Publishers. 16 Ibid., 27:30. [2] Ryken, P. G. (2005). Galatians (R. D. Phillips, P. G. Ryken, & D. M. Doriani, Eds.; p. 204). P&R Publishing.