What Really Counts

Day 262: Galatians 5:1-12

“For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” - Galatians‬ ‭5:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

False teachers are notorious for making Christianity about rule-keeping as a means for salvation. I mean, it is easy to see why they use such tactics. It takes all the mystery out of following Jesus and makes it about what we can do. We love when the focus is on us and our accomplishments.

Yet, in its purest form, Christianity is about trusting Jesus to such an extent that love is the outcome. The Greek word Paul uses for expressing is energeō and can also be translated as work or to be in action. This means that faith is to come first, then love is to follow. This way, we keep everything in its proper perspective.

Obeying the Law of Moses wasn’t going to justify these first-century Christians, and neither will our own efforts set us free.

Jesus is the only one who offers true freedom, and from there, He creates in us a new heart that will accomplish more than we could have ever done by our own initiative.

“For it is the love of Christ which moves our hearts to respond to him; so in that sense it is true to say that our faith is ‘inspired by love.’”
- Cole, R. A. (1989). Galatians (Vol. 9, p. 195)