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FAITH AND LOVE ARE INSEPARABLE
GAL 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
This is a very powerful principle! Nothing we do avails anything that is not of
"faith which worketh by love." There are those who teach that the law is the
whip that drives us to Christ. However, any kind of compulsion or slavish fear is totally
incompatible with either faith or love.
2TI 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind. This word "fear" is
"delilia [di-lee'-ah] in the Greek -- which means "to be timid -- filled with
dread -- fearfulness -- or cowardice." See how dynamically such fear is
opposed to faith -- the Lord Jesus said to His disciples when he rebuked the wind -- and
the sea was calm. "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no
faith?" MAR 4:40.
The Word of God so clearly teaches the harmony between the will of God -- and
our will through faith, which worketh by love, and not of slavish fear -- or
compulsion. 1JO 4:16-18 says, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath
to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because
as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is
no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
If we truly have the gift of faith in God -- it
will be proven by our self-sacrificial love to our fellow man. "Faith [that] worketh
by love," is all that availeth anything. 1JO 4:19-21 says, "We love him,
because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he
hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also."
How can there be any faith in a God who is LOVE
-- except by a faith that worketh by love? What value is there in any faith? Faith is only
as good as the Object of that faith!!! JER 17:7-8 says, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her
roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and
shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding
fruit."
Faith can be misplaced!!! When we put our confidence in our own good works
of self-righteousness -- or some person -- or something that has no ultimate power -- we
will find that our faith is vain -- The force that makes faith work is the power of God.
2TI 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind."
There is power in a spirit of love -- It is the love of Christ that moves
irresistibly upon the heart unto repentance -- If your faith is founded upon anything for
its object -- other than the love of God -- or the God of love -- it is powerless.
Faith worketh by love -- but for what -- or who? Not love for self -- but
for the God of our salvation -- and our neighbour. Amen.
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God sent His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from their sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forever more endure--
The saints and angels song.
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Conrad MT 59425
(406)278-5664
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