Fifty Two Weeks / Galatians 5

Faith Expressed Through Love

The main thrust of Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia was the fact that they were drifting away from the gospel and following strange teaching. The teaching they were being seduced by was one of law. While it is often the case for people to be drawn way by teachings that lead to loose living and immorality it is equally possible to be led in the other direction. The big attraction with this teaching is the sense that “I’m doing something to earn God’s favor.” Compared to the cross this is a blasphemous notion and Paul reserves some of his strongest rhetoric for this error.

He sums it up in this chapter with the pithy statement, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Love without faith is a futile exercise. Faith without love is a sham. Faith expressing itself through love is the life of Christ.

The Entire Law

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This isn’t the only place where Paul makes this point. Love totally fulfills the law. 

Love is the power to obey. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to the cross because” I love the Father and do exactly whatever He tells me to do.” 

Love is the fulfillment of the law toward others. If you love someone you will not kill them or lie about them or steal from them. You will not be envious of them because you will rejoice in their success. You can make a list of rules and keep them without an ounce of love in your body, but to love is to completely transcend lists.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Paul speaks here about the fruit of the Spirit. This is the evidence that the Holy Spirit is resident and active in a person’s life. He mentions nine things; or does he?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol. There are nine things on this list but since Greek did not have punctuation we really don’t know if there should be a comma or a colon after the word “love”. I believe it should be a colon and here is why. 

1 Corinthians 13 is the famous chapter on love. In verses 4-7 Paul describes love and an examination of that description shows that it compares closely with these eight qualities listed after “love” in Galatians 5. 

Galatians 5 mentions joy. 1 Corinthians 13 says “love rejoices in the truth.”

Galatians 5 mentions peace. 1 Corinthians 13 says love is not easily angered.

Galatians 5 mentions patience. 1 Corinthians 13 says love is patient.

Galatians 5 mentions kindness. 1 Corinthians 13 says love is kind and not rude.

Galatians 5 mentions goodness. 1 Corinthians 13 says love does not delight in evil.

Galatians 5 mentions faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 13 says love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Galatians 5 mentions gentleness (humility). 1 Corinthians 13 says love is not boastful or proud.

Galatians 5 mentions self control. Since every quality mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 is a choice rather than an emotion it is easy to see that love requires self control.

Faith expressed through love. The law fulfilled through love. The fruit of the Spirit is love. This is the true Christian life.