FAITH AND WORKS (GALATIANS 6:1-10)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 FAITH AND WORKS (GALATIANS 6:1-10) Paul gives his final remarks on the importance of faith in Christ leading to works (works refer to the law of Christ which is love). REFLECTION Faith and works is the theme for today’s reflection. Faith according to our study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Sep 17, 2021

4–6 minutes

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

FAITH AND WORKS (GALATIANS 6:1-10)

Paul gives his final remarks on the importance of faith in Christ leading to works (works refer to the law of Christ which is love).

REFLECTION

Faith and works is the theme for today’s reflection. Faith according to our study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians is believing and having the conviction solely that Jesus Christ is one’s Lord and Saviour and through Him, he or she receives justification to become the child of God through grace. Works refer to an act of righteousness prescribed by the law. Paul’s final words to the Galatians is that if there will be any act of righteousness for which they will boast of then it should be borne out of their faith in Christ which will manifest in their relationship with people, especially members of their church.

Paul in Galatians 6:1-5 teaches us that our faith in Christ should lead to the work of restoring the lost in Christ. A believer who has faith in Christ and is spiritually strong and matured should be concerned about his or her brother or sister who is lost because of sin. Self-deception is thinking that you have faith in Christ yet your faith does not lead to any tangible and impactful transformation in the life of others who are lost. We are to be watchful so that we do not deceive ourselves, thinking that we have been saved and for that matter, we can abuse the grace we have in Jesus, for Paul cautions us to “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” Galatians 6:1. Fulfilment and inner satisfaction are when your faith in Christ leads you to do his will which is the law of Christ. The law of Christ is the unconditional love we show to others.

It is again important to note that taking care of or showing kindness by sharing good things with your pastor and with those who are in the ministry of preaching or teaching the Word of God is a work of righteousness done out of your faith in the Lord. A good pastor or teacher is the one who devotes his or her time to study the word of God only to teach and shepherd the people of God, that is his or her core business or ministry. This is what he or she is expected to do daily for the rest of his or her life. It is for this reason Paul wrote that Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. (Galatians 6:6). Let us recall the interaction between Philip and the Ethiopian Enoch in Acts 8 26-40. “So Philip ran to him(the Ethiopian Enoch) and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him (Acts 8:30-31). The pastor’s core duty is to teach and guide believers to understand the Scripture they read. Many Christians have failed in this regard, if you know the power of the Word of God and its transformational impact in the life of a believer then you will appreciate the effort of a pastor or teacher who studies and by divine knowledge and revelation teaches the Word of truth to help you deepen your faith and relationship with God. To support your pastor is not a favour you are doing for God or your pastor as a person, it is an act of sowing in faith and fulfilling what is required of a believer. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 10:40-42 that ““Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Paul likens faith and works to the agricultural practices of sowing and harvesting. Faith becomes a seed we sow and the fruits we reap or harvest are the works of righteousness (love) in Christ and eternal life. We are not righteous unto ourselves or through our own effort, we are justified and made righteous through faith in Christ and what we do through Christ only. It is important to note that we do not love others or do an act of kindness solely because we want God to bless us. We show love to others as a result of our faith and salvation through our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. Faith is an act of sowing Spiritually, it is for this reason faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” The farmer sows seed with the hope and conviction that in some few months he will reap what he as sown therefore my dear friend, Paul admonishes us that “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:7-10). Shalom

PRAYER

MERCIFUL LORD, MAKE OUR FAITH STRONG SO WE MAY PRODUCE THE WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH THE LOVE YOU HAVE SHOWN US ON THE CROSS. AMEN.

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)