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How Faith Works, April 13
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor
uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 5:6
.
Christ has shown His great love for us by giving His life that we should
not perish in our sins, that He might clothe us with His salvation. If this
divine love is cherished in our hearts, it cements and strengthens our union
with those of like faith. “He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and
God in him” (
1 John 4:16
). The strengthening of our love for our brethren
and sisters strengthens our love for Christ. This principle of love for God
and for those for whom Christ died, needs to be quickened by the Holy
Spirit and cemented with brotherly kindness, tenderness; it needs to be
strengthened by acts which testify that God is love. This union, which
joins heart with heart, is not the result of sentimentalism, but the working
of a healthful principle. Faith works by love, and purifies the soul from
all selfishness. Thus the soul is perfected in love. And having found grace
and mercy through Christ’s precious blood, how can we fail to be tender
and merciful? ...
Faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, the One who pardons
our sins and transgressions, the One who is able to keep us from sin and
lead us in His footsteps, is set forth in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah.
Here are presented the fruits of a faith that works by love and purifies the
soul from selfishness. Faith and works are here combined.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wicked-
ness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that
ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that
thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the
naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own
flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health
shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.... And the Lord shall guide
thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose
waters fail not.”
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