How does faith work?

[Fraught]

In the NIV translation of Galatians 5:6 it says this:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Speaking of the insufficiency of rule following for outward show, what exactly is an expression of faith through love?

It's put this way in the King James: but faith which worketh by love.

and like this in the NASB: but faith working through love.

Since it is the only thing that counts i would like to understand it in a more concrete way. Can you help me by showing an example from everyday life of faith working by love?

[dcampsart]

In the NIV translation of Galatians 5:6 it says this:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Speaking of the insufficiency of rule following for outward show, what exactly is an expression of faith through love?

It's put this way in the King James: but faith which worketh by love.

and like this in the NASB: but faith working through love.

Since it is the only thing that counts i would like to understand it in a more concrete way. Can you help me by showing an example from everyday life of faith working by love?

If I may, another verse further back in Galatians that has always intrigued me concerning faith and love:

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The more I grow in the knowledge of his love for me, I believe the greater my faith (trust) will grow proportionately and outwardly express itself in, by or through love to others around me. LOVE has no FEAR. Fear has torment. The more I fear the less I trust. It may be a weak example for everyday life that you're looking for but I had a little lesson the other day in what it may mean to express faith through love.

Recently, I had an individual slam me for no apparent reason. The things this person screamed at me and the anger toward me she displayed was down right wicked and totally innappropriate. She was laboring to get into a door with her arms filled with bags all the while yelling. I was in another room totally unaware of her difficulty. I was accused of everything in the book from insensitivity, lack of manners... you name it. I was blown away with how unfair these accusations were. At first, in my flesh, I wanted to retaliate with a terrible vengence but the idea of how Christ may have handled this sort of thing came to mind in 1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

I decided to let her finish ranting. While waiting, I decided when she was finished to simply say I was sorry. I didn't justify myself at all but that didn't mean I didn't WANT TO! She was stunned. Although she was still angry, she had nothing to say after hearing me apologize. When I saw that calmed her down, I threw in an offer for a back rub. Her demeanor totally did a 180 degree turn-around.

How could this drama have been seen as faith expressing itself through love? Normally, I would've handled something like this out of anger because of fear. The more I grow in faith or trust in God's love for me and how I know he judges all circumstances rightly, the more I will ultimately express that faith and trust in him to others by my actions.

[EricH]

According to Paul, anything we do that is not conditioned by and motivated by the greatest commandment (to Love God with all that we are and love others as ourselves) has no value. He reiterated this in 1 Corinthians:

and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but so not have love, I am nothing

1 Corinthians 13:2c HCSB

True faith will produce the type of love described in 1 Corinthians 13

[riel]

Someone once said, "The closer you are to God, the more you'll have a heart for others." This is a true statement because we can't love unconditionally without intimately knowing the Father. That knowledge of the Father will cause us to trust or have faith in Him. When that trust and unconditional love is in a person's heart, he'll know it. That love will be on display for the world to see as he reaches out in good works to others. James 2:20 says that faith without works is dead.

My example of love in action was that I waited 37 years before my husband and I had a relationship. The unconditional love "made" me wait that long, and I'm happy (to put it mildly) that I did. Our Father is awesome!!!!!!!

Edited January 21, 2009 by riel

[OneLight]

I know of a man who was at the store shopping for food. While in an isle looking for something on the shelves, he overheard a mother whispering to her kids, telling them that did not have enough money for one thing because they needed it for the other. Both were basic items, like bread and milk. Looking at the mother with her kids, he noticed that her basket only had a couple of items, the mothers eyes had tears and the kids were sad. Realizing that this family didn't have the money to buy even one meal, he took money our of his wallet and gave it to her, telling her that he believe God would want her to have this. The look on their faces were unbelief that a stranger would do this for them. He turned and walked away.

I believe this true story is the action of faith working by love.

[Rick-Parker]

How about the ministry (not supported by any NGO) who run a homeless shelter (in love), believing in faith that the Lord will provide the means to feed and house the people. That is faith in God motivated by love for humanity.

[hayahtowb]

Hi Fraught, using your favorite dictionary look at the words definition, it should say somthing like: Believing without proof.

In the NIV translation of Galatians 5:6 it says this:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Speaking of the insufficiency of rule following for outward show, what exactly is an expression of faith through love?

It's put this way in the King James: but faith which worketh by love.

and like this in the NASB: but faith working through love.

Since it is the only thing that counts i would like to understand it in a more concrete way. Can you help me by showing an example from everyday life of faith working by love?

I also believe that all people use some form of faith. And love part, just look around you.

Good thread topic, thanks.

[dcampsart]

Someone once said, "The closer you are to God, the more you'll have a heart for others." This is a true statement because we can't love unconditionally without intimately knowing the Father. That knowledge of the Father will cause us to trust or have faith in Him. When that trust and unconditional love is in a person's heart, he'll know it. That love will be on display for the world to see as he reaches out in good works to others. James 2:20 says that faith without works is dead.

My example of love in action was that I waited 37 years before my husband and I had a relationship. The unconditional love "made" me wait that long, and I'm happy (to put it mildly) that I did. Our Father is awesome!!!!!!!

Very... very... well said riel! I wouldn't want this thread to go in another direction but I would have to ask for your interpretation on something.

First off, considering all that you said about becoming intimately close to the Father through faith, resulting from deeper knowledge of him through his word, what would be your interpretation for, what I call, a key word "OF" in Galatians 2:20 from the King James Version?

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [Gal 2:20]

Considering the King James use of the word when Paul said that he lived by the faith OF the Son of God do you, or anyone else, believe that we can get to a place in our walk where it is Christ within that takes over and lives out his life, as he lived on earth, through our mortal bodies? What I mean is, can we become so "possessed" by Christ, so filled with HIM, that it becomes HIS eyes that we see through... HIS mind that we think with... HIS heart that we love with and lastly... HIS faith we operate in and express?

I know many other translations use the word "IN" instead of the word "OF". Faith "IN" the Son of God instead of Faith "OF" the Son of God. I haven't done any study for the word "OF" in the original Greek but I have sometimes wondered if we can walk in such closeness with the Lord that it becomes Christ's actual faith expressing itself through HIS love for all those we come into contact with?

Im sure that it is more universally interpreted to mean we live by OUR faith IN the Son of God instead of we living our lives BY the faith OF the Son of God. It would seem that if the word IN is more appropriate here I have a large role to play in developing this faith. I'm not trying to interpret the word OF in the KJV to allow me a "cop-out"... to excuse my lack of faith at times... but how inspiring and exciting the thought that we could get to a place that we are so aware of how crucified we truly are and Christ literally takes over in the area of faith and love.

I humbly request your thoughts...

[Fraught]

Someone once said, "The closer you are to God, the more you'll have a heart for others." This is a true statement because we can't love unconditionally without intimately knowing the Father. That knowledge of the Father will cause us to trust or have faith in Him. When that trust and unconditional love is in a person's heart, he'll know it. That love will be on display for the world to see as he reaches out in good works to others. James 2:20 says that faith without works is dead.

My example of love in action was that I waited 37 years before my husband and I had a relationship. The unconditional love "made" me wait that long, and I'm happy (to put it mildly) that I did. Our Father is awesome!!!!!!!

Very... very... well said riel! I wouldn't want this thread to go in another direction but I would have to ask for your interpretation on something.

First off, considering all that you said about becoming intimately close to the Father through faith, resulting from deeper knowledge of him through his word, what would be your interpretation for, what I call, a key word "OF" in Galatians 2:20 from the King James Version?

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [Gal 2:20]

Considering the King James use of the word when Paul said that he lived by the faith OF the Son of God do you, or anyone else, believe that we can get to a place in our walk where it is Christ within that takes over and lives out his life, as he lived on earth, through our mortal bodies? What I mean is, can we become so "possessed" by Christ, so filled with HIM, that it becomes HIS eyes that we see through... HIS mind that we think with... HIS heart that we love with and lastly... HIS faith we operate in and express?

I know many other translations use the word "IN" instead of the word "OF". Faith "IN" the Son of God instead of Faith "OF" the Son of God. I haven't done any study for the word "OF" in the original Greek but I have sometimes wondered if we can walk in such closeness with the Lord that it becomes Christ's actual faith expressing itself through HIS love for all those we come into contact with?

Im sure that it is more universally interpreted to mean we live by OUR faith IN the Son of God instead of we living our lives BY the faith OF the Son of God. It would seem that if the word IN is more appropriate here I have a large role to play in developing this faith. I'm not trying to interpret the word OF in the KJV to allow me a "cop-out"... to excuse my lack of faith at times... but how inspiring and exciting the thought that we could get to a place that we are so aware of how crucified we truly are and Christ literally takes over in the area of faith and love.

I humbly request your thoughts...

my thoughts on this are that from the moment you are born again, the faith you have is OF the Son of God. we may think it is our faith - that by His power we have faith - but it isn't true. it feels that way, yes. but scripture tells us that He GIVES us a measure of faith. without this gift, we would not have this faith at all.

as you said, there is a role for us to play in increasing or developing this faith, also by the power OF God that gives it to us in the first place.

[Fraught]

so, to sum up answers to my post, would you say that expressions of faith are to give without thought to one's own needs, not having a concern whether those needs are met or unmet?