Gálatas 5

Gálatas 5

Utley says "It is Spirit-motivated (AND EMPOWERED) love that for believers sets the standard of conduct and gives the ability to obey. It is the new covenant, a new heart (cf. Jer. 31:33+; Ezek. 36:26–27+)." Faith (4102) see note on pistis Working (1754) (energeo from en = in + érgon = work. English = energetic) means to work effectively to cause something to happen. It means power in exercise, and is used only of superhuman power that works energetically, effectively and/or efficiently and produce results. Love (26) see note on agape Duncan - When Paul rejects the Law as the basis of our justification and salvation and the means of our sanctification, he's not denouncing godly moral conduct. He's not suggesting that saving faith is belief and no works need to follow that faith or be involved in it – not at all. For Paul, for all of the apostles, true faith is a faith that works, and it can't be otherwise. It cannot be otherwise, because Christ is a Savior Who works. His work of redemption for His people is the greatest work that has even been done and it is the greatest act of love that has ever been done, and it evokes love in us for Him and for others. The love of Christ for us constrains us to love Him in return and love others as He did with the same kind of self-denying love (2 Cor 5:14). It cannot be otherwise, since by faith we are joined to Him, we are placed in Him. We thereby partake of His life, which is a life of love, and that life of Christ transforms us. Because we're in Him, we receive His life and it's a supernatural transformation that takes place. So salvation is by faith, but genuine faith is living faith. It's faith that expresses itself in love, which is the expression of Christian freedom. We act in obedience because we want to, not because we have to. Grace does not preclude works. It promotes works. You might think that, well, the legalist has this advantage on the man of grace. He works harder. That's not the case at all. People who understand grace work harder than legalists, but work for them is not labor. It's service. It's service to God, it's service to men, it's what we want to do. It's what we need to do. It's within us to do that. So grace promotes works. (Sermon) Jack Arnold - There is no strength or power in circumcision or uncircumcision when one is in Christ. The power is in God Who loves and gives the power to exercise faith through the Holy Spirit. This “love” does not refer to man’s love or we would have salvation or spirituality by works. It would be making faith the result of man’s love. Faith is the result of God’s love and this faith works because God is behind it. The doctrine of grace does not cause a person to be indifferent about his Christianity resulting in low morals and ethics, but real grace and love from God produces faith in the Christian. This could be translated, “But faith which is working by love.” The Holy Spirit is working inside every Christian to produce holiness of life (Phil. 2:12b-13 “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”). The Christian does not work in order to be saved or keep himself saved, but he works by faith because he is saved. True faith works. The true Christian will prove with his life he is saved, but the power to exercise faith comes from God Himself, for He is working in the life of every Christian through the Holy Spirit. Works are not the cause of our salvation, but are the result of it. The Christian works as he is motivated by the Holy Spirit out of a deep appreciation of God’s grace and love that has been shown him in Christ Jesus. Spirit-moved and faith-prompted works are necessary to prove, demonstrate and give evidence of true saving faith (James 2:14 “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims (says) to have faith but has no deeds (works)? Can such a faith save him? (No!)”).(Liberty not Legalism)