Paul (in his preaching) would have never emphasized Jewish circumcision like he has, except he was forced to do so! There were some “missionaries” from Judea who have (apparently) followed Paul, everywhere that man of God traveled, Jews seeking to preach works (instead of grace) as the means of salvation. Or at least as an aid to salvation!

Therefore Paul had strongly and incessantly refuted their (false) claims … thus deny any possibility that circumcision saves!

But in reality, had not that false “litmus test” been raised … circumcision would have remained a “non-issue.”

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6, today’s Verse.

The verb “availeth” is “ischuo,” which means “to strengthen, to make able, to empower.” And circumcision (a matter of surgery, in essence) does not help one to be saved! For that matter neither does “uncircumcision!” The condition of a man’s body does NOT save … Jesus saves!

And Jesus saves, not by means of a sharp knife, but by belief, “by faith” in His Name, in His finished Work on the Cross of Calvary!

Then Paul, led by our Lord God Himself, adds “faith which worketh by love.”

And “love” (in Greek “agape”) had been the last thing on the minds of the Judiazers that had raided Paul’s converts in Galatia! They in fact, “hated” Paul and his (in their blurred eyes) “new-fangled” Gospel!

This is the “love” that, we shall learn soon, is the “Fruit of the Holy Spirit” in the life of a true Believer in Jesus!

And looks like (“Faith which worketh by love”) saving faith and energizing love come “hand-in-hand!” It is sort of a “you-can’t-have-one-without-the-other” situation!

The verb “worketh” here, as I have indicated, is “energeo,” meaning “to be operative, to be fervent,” hence “to work!”

Love energizes faith!

Wow!

The unconditional Love of God (for lost sinners) energized our very decision to trust Jesus!

The love of God (for his born-again children) energizes us to be faithful!

What a verse today!

Not very lengthy in vocabulary words, but quite mighty in comfort to people seeking peace with Almighty God!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell