Galatians 5:6 (NASBStr)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
Galatians 5:6 (NIV1984)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
What really counts? What is the main thing? In the verse just previous to the one we have posted above, Paul says that we all way eagerly, in hope, for righteousness. He is talking about believers. The Galatian believers were tempted to follow the false teaching in their area churches that was telling them to follow the law and be circumcised (which was the outward symbolic act that you were followers of the law). These false teachers were telling them that righteousness came from "acts" they did. Paul is trying to correct their thinking and get them back to the gospel. The gospel message says that neither circumcision or uncircumcision avails anything. But, faith in Christ, is the sole avenue to hope for righteousness. That faith, however, is not simply intellectual ascent (although it isn't void of intellectual reason). The faith Paul is talking about is a faith that is demonstrated in our acts of love toward others. Faith is not merely belief; it is belief in action. Since we have faith that God forgives, we can forgive and treat our enemies with love. Since we have faith that God is in control we can live through pain and disappointment. Since we have faith that God defeated death and the enemies of our soul (the flesh, Satanic power) we can live victorious in this world. It is not "IF" we keep the law that saves us, it IS faith that saves us. But it is a faith that demonstrates it life naturally by doing acts of love.
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