The Law of Faith – Conclusion

Love: The ultimate evidence of a faith that works

The Scriptures teach that “If I should have all faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). Not only are you nothing without love, but the very faith you have becomes powerless and valueless when it is not working by love –“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power [Greek: ischuo – to have or exercise force] but only faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6).  Faith has the power to accomplish its purpose only when it is working by love.

What then does it mean to love? The Bible answers it this way: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His [God’s] commandments (1 John 5:3)”. To love is simply to obey God. When love is absent from our lives we give place to fear, which neutralizes our faith (cf. Mark 4:40; 1 John 4:18). But if anyone keeps God’s Word, i.e. walk in love, in him/her is the love of God truly perfected (1 John 2:5), and this perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). When fear is cast out, faith is empowered, peace flourishes in our hearts and good comes to us (cf. Job 22:21).

We are commanded to pursue righteousness in 2 Timothy 2:22. This righteousness is called a breastplate (Ephesians 6:14), and this breastplate is also referred to as faith and love (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Therefore God’s call to us to pursue righteousness is a commandment to pursue faith and love. You cannot walk in unrighteousness and expect to receive from God, for those who make a practice of unrighteousness are told not to expect to inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 6:9). But if we will walk in our righteousness, our right standing with God guarantees that we receive from God. Our life of righteousness is a life of faith and love.

Love is the fuel with which faith burns, and the depth of your love sets the limit for how far your faith can go. Therefore be extravagant in your love. Love God by obeying Him and become perfected in love thereby. This is how you will overcome faith’s great enemy- fear, and empower your faith.  Your faith working by love is what counts before God (Galatians 5:6), and is your ultimate proof that you will receive from God.

-Kwadwo Omari, PhD

© May 24, 2017.