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.