Expressing Faith in Love

‘But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love’ (Gal 5:5-6)

Faith works through love; it is made fruitful through love for God, and benevolence to our fellow men. ‘It is not a mere intellectual belief, but it is that which reaches the heart, and controls the affections. It is not a dead faith, but it is that which is operative, and which is seen in Christian kindness and affection’ (Barnes New Testament Notes). Love is the medium through which faith can be fully expressed and made fruitful. The world that we see was birthed out of God’s love and it is also sustained by God’s love. It was by faith that the seen world was birthed out of the unseen (Heb 11:3). However, love was the driving force behind that medium of faith.

Paul the Apostle teaches in 1 Cor 13:2 that, if one has faith that can move mountains…but has no love he is only making useless noise. Without love all that a man does is done out of self-centeredness. A man who lives a life of self-centeredness cannot maximize his potential. In order to serve God you must focus on God and others, rather than yourself alone. ‘Much of what we do is self-serving. We serve to be admired, or to achieve our own goals. Some of what we do is more manipulation than ministry. We’re really thinking about ourselves and how noble and wonderful we are. We even use serving as a bargaining tool: “God, I’ll do this for you if you’ll do that for me.” No, true servants don’t use God for their purposes; they let God use them for His’ (Bob Gass).

Peter the Apostle talks about ‘the additions to faith’ in 2 Pet 1:5-8. He says that love enables us to share in God’s divine nature and it helps us escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. He then admonishes us that, for that reason, we should make every effort to add to our faith numerous virtues and ultimately love. Below is a discussion of Peter’s message.

         Add to our faith, goodness or moral excellence: This means being continuously good to others.

         Add to our goodness, knowledge: This refers to knowing God more, and it comes by yearning and learning to know Him more. It also includes growing in wide-ranging knowledge apart from the knowledge of God’s word.

         To knowledge, add self control: The lesson here is that when dealing with the less knowledgeable, come to their level by being gentle with them. This may sometimes call for putting aside one’s knowledge, desires and preferences.

         To self-control add perseverance: The lesson here is that patiently endure even as you try to help others.

         To perseverance add godliness: As you patiently endure suffering for the sake of the gospel, you grow into maturity and the nature of God in you is revealed.

         To godliness add brotherly kindness: This means enjoy other people and like them. You can't be closer to God than you are to the people you love least.

         To brotherly kindness add love: Love is truly the greatest commandment and greatest virtue every Christian should desire for.

Finally, Peter adds that, the more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, may your faith be expressed through your love for God and your fellow men.