Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love. I. FAITH ALWAYS PRODUCES LOVE. 1. By a necessity of faith's own nature. 2. By the discoveries of beauty in Christ which faith is sure to make. 3. By its appropriation of the love of Christ. 4. By its enjoyment of mercy, leading the heart to a grateful acknowledgment of the source of mercy. 5. By the familiarity with God and the congeniality of disposition which it breeds in the heart. II. LOVE IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON FAITH. 1. No man loves a Saviour in whom he reposes no confidence. 2. Love cannot flourish except as faith flourishes. 3. Love cannot work without faith. III. FAITH DISPLAYS ITS POWER BY LOVE. Compare faith to an artificer in metals. 1. Love is faith's arm. 2. Faith's tools. 3. Faith's furnace. 4. Faith's mould. 5. Faith's metal, for into the mould of love faith pours love itself. 6. Faith's burnisher. IV. LOVE REACTS ON FAITH AND PERFECTS IT. 1. Love leads the soul into admiration and so increases faith. 2. Love forbids unbelief. 3. Perfect love casts out fear.In conclusion (1) Faith works: let us as a Church work because we have faith. (2) A working Church must be a loving Church, for faith works by love. (3) But if you are to be a working and a loving Church you must be a believing Church, for that is the bottom of all. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. |
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