Today’s reading is Galatians 5.
The work of circumcision doesn’t count for anything in Jesus Christ. However, faith working through love does count for something in Christ Jesus. Wait! I thought we had been told works don’t count for anything in Jesus Christ. Why then does Paul tell us works done in faith through love do count? Because the contrast is not between believing something in my mind and acting with my body.
The fact is I cannot claim to truly believe something in my mind unless it impacts the behavior of my body. Too many have thought Paul was making a contrast between mental passivity and physical activity. Because they have thought this, they have painted with too broad of a brush. They have thought that if the English word “work” could in any sense of its meanings be applied to the Christian’s actions, then it is taking from God’s glory. They are mistaken.
The word “work” can have different meanings, different applications, different nuances in a different contexts. Take a look at Merriam-Webster’s definition of the English word “work” and see there are three entries (one as a verb, one as a noun, one as an adjective) with a combined total of 32 definitions (some overlapping, but some distinct).
Paul does say in Galatians 2:16, “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Jesus Christ, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (ESV). However it is silly, reckless, and irresponsible to think all 32 definitions of the word “work” suddenly have to be abandoned and cannot possibly be used in any way when connected to our being justified and saved. Frankly, that is like reading “We do not allow jumping to conclusions” and claiming it means “We do not allow jumping jacks.”
What then should we make of Paul’s statement that “faith working through love” really does matter? We should grasp we are unable to work our own salvation by our own strength and accomplishment through tallying up works of obedience to the Law. However, our faith is supposed to work in response to God’s promises. Further, that faith is to work through love.
Whether we perform the work of circumcision or not will not help us or benefit us in the slightest. In fact, as we learned yesterday, if we perform that work in an attempt to justify ourselves by our own strength, it harms us, severing us from Christ. However, if we really believe God’s promise to save us through Christ, we will act on our faith. Another way of saying it is our faith will work. And that matters. Because if we don’t act on our faith, if we don’t work our faith, we can’t claim to have faith.
In other words, quit trying to work your way into heaven as if you can save yourself. Instead, work your way into Jesus because you believe God’s promise of salvation in Jesus.
Today’s reading is Galatians 5.
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Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
- What comfort do you gain from knowing Jesus is the one who saves us instead of us having to save ourselves?
- Based on the above post, what do you see as the difference between “works of the Law” and “works of faith”?
- Is Edwin correct when he writes we cannot claim to have faith if it doesn’t impact our actions and behavior? Why or why not?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?
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