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[Keifer]

They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. (Psalms 82:5)

[Keifer]

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

[Keifer]

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:11)

[Keifer]

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

[Keifer]

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13)

[Keifer]

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18)

[Keifer]

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)

[Keifer]

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14)

[Keifer]

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

[Keifer]

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

[Keifer]

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: ( 1 Peter 1:8 )

[Keifer]

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (John 8:42)

[Keifer]

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15)

[Keifer]

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5:6)

[mattfivefour]

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5:6)

Brother, I quietly read your posts daily. but today I feel led to comment on this one. The phrase "faith which worketh by love" intrigues me. The verse itself tells us that ONLY faith which worketh by love "avails"—has power, has strength, is of any use. But what does "faith which worketh by love" really mean? How does faith "work" by love?

I think Jamieson, Fausset and Brown have given the best answer to these questions:

The Greek expresses ... [that faith] exhibits its energy by love. Love is not joined with faith in justifying, but is the principle of the works which follow after justification by faith.

Let not legalists ... think that the essence of the law is set at naught by the doctrine of justification by faith only. Nay, "all the law is fulfilled in one word-love," which is the principle on which "faith worketh" (Galatians 5:14). Let the legalists seek this "faith," which will enable them truly to fulfill the law.

Again, let not those who pride themselves on [freedom from the law] think that, because the law does not justify, they are free to walk after "the flesh" (Galatians 5:13). Let them seek that "love" which is inseparable from true faith (James 2:8; James 2:12-22).

Love IS the fulfilling of the law. And true faith in Christ is manifested by the outworking of love—love for God, love for the brethren, love for mankind—demonstrated by and in the works of the saved.

[Keifer]

Amen Matt, bless your heart. One could say that our love for each of those you mentioned is a product of our salvation. Here's today's offering...

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

[Keifer]

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

[Keifer]

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 3:19)

[Keifer]

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17)

[Keifer]

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (1 Timothy 2:3)