THIS VERSE IS very important: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6). There are three passages around this thought of circumcision and uncircumcision. The other two are these: “For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God” (1 Cor. 7:19). “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Gal. 6:15). These three are important in an ascending importance: (1) “keeping the commandments of God”; (2) “a new creation”; and (3) “faith working through love.”
Circumcision was the dividing sign between Jew and Gentile. Baptism has now taken its place as the dividing sign between Christian and non-Christian. You are a Christian if you have been baptized, you are not a Christian if you have not been baptized. This is a division that does not divide, for many are baptized who are not Christians, and many are Christians who are not baptized—Quakers and the Salvation Army groups do not baptize. So Paul, writing today, would probably say: “For neither baptism counts for anything nor unbaptism, but a new creation.” He would throw the emphasis on the “new creation,” being born again, as the dividing line.
This phrase “faith working through love” is of the utmost importance. There are four levels of life: (1) the level of instinct; (2) the level of duty; (3) the level of receiving grace through faith; (4) and the level of faith working through love. The faith that works through combat, through criticism, through proving others wrong, is less than a Christian faith. Only the faith which makes all its contacts love contacts, which makes love its working force, is the Christian faith.
O Jesus, Lord, all Thy contacts were love contacts. Love was and is Thy working force. Make it mine. May I love the loveless with Thy love. My love breaks down. Give me Thy love as my working force. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: My faith will work by love and only by love, for if it works by anything else it is not the Christian faith.
