Faith Should Be Expressed Through Love - 1 Corinthians 7-8

1 Corinthians 7:19 (ESV)
For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Galatians 5:6 (ESV)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 6:15 (ESV)
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Colossians 3:11 (ESV) 
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

When Paul wrote his letters to Corinth, Galatia and Colossae, he was making a strong point: The outward actions of a believer mean nothing. It is the inward that matters.   Circumcision in the Old Testament teachings was a way for a person who expressed belief in Yahweh to demonstrate his faith.  It was the act of circumcision that was used to say to all that I believe in Yahweh and I am devoted to him.   When Christ died on the cross, the New Testament faith was demonstrated by water baptism.   However, there were a number of Jewish believers who thought along with faith in Christ and along with water baptism, you should also follow the circumcision laws and rules of the past.  Paul makes it very clear that this type of teaching was wrong. He makes it equally clear that the sign that goes along with my faith (that is expressed through water baptism) is love.  In this passage in 1 Corinthians the word love is not mentioned (in this passage, but clearly in other verses in the letter Paul wrote).  We are not to focus on the outward manifestation like circumcision.  We are to focus on the expression of loving our brothers.  In chapter 8, Paul talks about how to express love over a disputable social activity.   To make that truth possible, he first wants them to see that faith in Christ is not completed by circumcision acts like the Old Testament.   He wants them to know that faith in Christ is all that is needed to have a relationship with God AND that if that faith is genuine, it is expressed through love of the saints around you.   The only outward act to demonstrate faith is love for others and that is a “demonstration” of the inward faith, not a qualification to have faith.   Love naturally follows true faith.  Love does not make faith happen.  Love makes faith known.