Faith Works by Love

  In the book of Galatians, the fifth chapter and the sixth verse, the Apostle Paul teaches that faith works by love. In this passage, Paul is referring to the idea the someone has expressed to the Christians at Galatia that in order to achieve God's approval they must follow the law of Moses in circumcision. Paul urges them that the redemption provided to us by Christ's sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection is sufficient for salvation, as stated by Jesus (John 15:13-15) that the greatest display of love is that He would lay down His life for His friends. 

   Up to the time of Jesus, the method of forgiveness of sin was by animal sacrifice. God set this method in place as a testament that Jesus, Himself, would one day be the ultimate sacrifice; the sacrifice to culminate all sacrifices. We have God's approval, not by keeping the Law, but by faith in Christ and that faith is borne in love.

  Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). God simply wants our trust, and dependency on Him. It is how we demonstrate our love for Him. Moreover, it is how we can maintain a close relationship with Him. And that's what God really wants from us: a love relationship.

   Because of our carnal, flesh, and material nature, we must come to God in humble repentance. It is our nature to do things for ourselves and to view the world around us from our own perspective. We need to develop a viewpoint from God's perspective. This is what it means to walk by the Spirit; to see things spiritually rather than materially. To do this, we have to deny the desires of the flesh, we have to put away selfish, momentary gratification and give ourselves to God's direction. Through a relationship with God, He communicates to us what we need to do in any situation. In order to know His voice we must have a close relationship with Him. Just as our relationships with one another: when in a crowded room we can hear the voice of someone we know well. Even if we can't see that person, we know that it is that person speaking. It is because we have that relationship with that person and we know the voice anywhere we hear it. That is how we can know the voice of God; by having a close, love relationship with Him.

  Therefore, we see how faith really does work by love. When we truly love someone, we believe in them, we know that we can depend on them. If we really love God, we know that He will never let us down and that all His promises are Yea and Amen.

   It is only when we separate ourselves from God that things fall apart on us. If we stray from our relationship from Him we go out from under His protection and we are left to our own devices: not a good thing, believe me! God will not impose His will upon anyone. If we are determined to do things on our own, without His guidance, He will let us. But in the end, we find (hopefully) that having the direction and guidance of The Most High is the best way to live.