6.6 Faith Working Through Love

I cannot emphasize enough how much freedom in Christ is made possible by faith working through love. This is the freedom into which grace leads us - forever! It is the freedom that the church, the bride of Christ, experiences, and lives in faithfulness to her husband because He is eternally faithful to her.

Since Paul made this comparison in the context of his lifetime, we should be able to recognize the obsolescence of the earthly Jerusalem in favor of the Jerusalem on high as previously shown in 2 Cor 3:10:

1 2 Corinthians 3:10

10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.

This is why it is important to understand the need to have the fullness of the Holy Spirit in a person's life.

Suppose we believe that modern Israel (the home of the slave woman, that is, the Jerusalem of this earth) is still entitled to receive her Old Testament promises. In that case, we have adopted the continuation of Old Covenant law along with its blessings and curses. We attempt to rebuild that which ended as described in 2 Corinthians 3:11:

1 2 Corinthians 3:11

11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

It helps us to understand why Paul gave such a scathing message to the Galatians in Galatians 1:6-9. He was saying that returning to practicing the Old Testament law represented a different gospel:

4 Galatians 1:6-9

6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news",

7 but there isn't another "good news." Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any "good news" other than that which you received, let him be cursed.

You can't hold onto both covenants! You will be brought back to trying to please God in the flesh and achieving righteousness by following the Old Testament Law. You will practice and teach legalism, pushing away those coming to God for His abundant grace. You will position yourselves under curses for disobedience, which have been abolished at the cross.

If you are not careful, you will end up making disciples who are twice as fit for hell as yourselves, except, of course, for God's mercy for your ignorance. This is the theme of Galatians 3:1-14.

14 Galatians 3:1-14

1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?

2 I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

6 Even so, Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

7 Know therefore that those who are of faith are children of Abraham.

8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed."

9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."

11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, "The righteous will live by faith."

12 The law is not of faith, but, "The man who does them will live by them."

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"

14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

This is why I also refuse to accept the curses pronounced in Malachi 3:8-12 for not tithing - it is the law of sin and death, not the law of the Spirit.

5 Malachi 3:8-12

8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and offerings.

9 You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this," says Yahweh of Armies, "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for.

11 I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field," says Yahweh of Armies.

12 "All nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says Yahweh of Armies.

Instead, I adhere to and remind saints to follow the principles of Galatians 5:6:

1 Galatians 5:6

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.

Although Paul refers to the law of circumcision, this also applies to other laws, such as tithing and keeping the Sabbath. The believer can exercise faith working through love without being encumbered by legalistic demands that bring guilt and condemnation.

Paul reemphasized in Galatians 6:15-16 that the law of the Spirit is at work in those who are a new creation, the Israel of God (born again into Christ by the Holy Spirit) with the New Covenant blessings of peace and mercy:

2 Galatians 6:15-16

15 For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God's true Israel.

The sacrament of communion has replaced animal sacrifices because communion is a regular remembrance of the final sacrifice: the breaking of Jesus' body and the shedding of His blood. It brings us to our knees. All our complaints against God cease when we consider how Jesus bore the sins of the whole world. This is what brings real peace, again, as Isaiah 53:5 puts it:

1 Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.

Grace does not mean that anything goes. It means that freedom from sin has been accomplished on the cross and only by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is something that only God could work out for us. Obedience, however, is the fruit of faith working through love. It becomes a process of renewing our minds as is described in Colossians 3:1-4:

4 Colossians 3:1-4

1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

Philippians 2:12-13 emphasizes that this is a continuing process:

2 Philippians 2:12-13

12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

The New Covenant emphasizes that the wonderful partnership with the Holy Spirit is constantly at work like an inner scrub brush, actively bringing conviction to our thoughts and actions to become more Christ-like. Since Jesus is the image of the invisible God, becoming Christ-like means becoming more like God. The devil's lie to Eve in the garden was that she could achieve godhood, even by open rebellion, without consequences. However, Hebrews 11:6 makes it very clear that:

1 Hebrews 11:6

6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Colossians 3:5-11 offers a diagnosis of that which is earthly. Notice that it applies to all people groups. Neither Jews nor Greeks (Gentiles) are excluded:

7 Colossians 3:5-11

5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 For these things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;

8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

9 Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

11 where there can't be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

Colossians 3:12-17 offers a prescription of obedience. We discover that being a Christian is a way of life - a means of experiencing heaven on earth:

6 Colossians 3:12-17

12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.

Romans 8:34 declares that:

1 Romans 8:34

34 It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Jesus is a scepter of truth and grace at the right hand of God. He intercedes for us and has unfailing love as described in Romans 8:35-39:

5 Romans 8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 Even as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God's love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are more than conquerors - we are reigning as those of whom the world is not worthy. Hebrews 11:38-39 tells us that the world was not worthy of the Old Testament prophets. So then, neither is it worthy of conquerors in Christ:

2 Hebrews 11:38-39

38 of whom the world was not worthy - wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

39 These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise.

Let us consider how 1 Corinthains 13:4-8 defines love. It is representative of God's love for everyone through Jesus Christ:

5 1 Corinthains 13:4-8

4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,

5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

8 Love never fails.

The blood of the Lamb stays the wrath of God from all who have placed their faith in the Son of God.