Kota Kemuning Church of Christ

Galatians 5:6 – Faith Working through Love

Written by Joel Danley

Paul begins this section of his letter to the  Christians at Galatia by telling them to “Stand fast . .  . and do not be entangled again with a yoke of  bondage” (Galatians 5:1). He understood that for  these Jewish Christians, there was a strong pull to go  back to the Law of Moses.

Circumcision was the sign of God’s covenant  with Abraham (Genesis 17:10-12) and was a  commandment under the Law of Moses (Leviticus  12:2,3). However, it was not required for Christians  under the law of Christ (Acts 15:1-21, Galatians  5:2). Some people were teaching a formula of: belief  plus baptism plus circumcision equals salvation.  The problem is that this outward action  (circumcision) has no power for salvation.

It is necessary for Paul to explain what truly  matters for Christians. So, he says, “For in Christ  Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision  avails anything, but faith working through love”  (Galatians 5:6). This is what counts.

Faith is more than just a feeling we have. It is  something that we must have (Hebrews 11:1) and it  comes from hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17).  Some people teach that faith is just believing in God  and Christ. This passage in Galatians is not the only  place the Bible discusses true faith, but Paul tells  these Christians that true faith works. That is, it acts

Faith is necessary, but an essential part of faith  is doing good works. Paul reminds us that we are  saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8), but we also are  reminded that our “. . . faith without works is dead  also” (James 2:26). We should have an observable  faith that people can see by the works that we do.

Paul encourages these Jewish Christians to  remember that faith is important. And that faith  should not be just the mental state of believing, but  faith must also be working. However, as he did in all  of his writings, Paul wants to remind Christians that  our ultimate motivation should be love (1  Corinthians 16:14). Paul would even go so far as to  say that if he did not have love, “. . . I am nothing”  (1 Corinthians 13:2). The love God showed for us  motivates us to love others (1 John 4:7,8).

Paul’s encouragement here is a great reminder  of what we should be doing each day in service to  God. Today, we may not struggle with going back to  the Law of Moses. But let us remember that a faith  that counts is faith working through love.