"In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love." Gal. 5:6.
With those who were in mind when this Scripture was originally written, circumcision was everything, and it was everything simply because of what it represented. And what circumcision represented to those people was works and works only. It was the greatest of all works--greater than creation itself--because, as the rabbis put it, "So great is circumcision, that but for it the Holy One, blessed be He, would not have created the world." "It is as great as all the other commandments," "equivalent to all the commandments of the law." --Farrar's "Life of Paul," chapter 22, para. 5, note; chapter 35, para 4, note.
Yet this which to them was so great, the Lord sweeps away, as with a blast, in the words, "Circumcision is nothing," and in Christ Jesus, circumcision avails nothing. And, in view of what circumcision meant to them, this was simply to say that works are nothing and in Christ Jesus works avail nothing.
Then to all the others who, in view of this, might be inclined to boast in their lack of works and thus excuse sin, the word is given with equal force: "And uncircumcision is nothing." "In Jesus Christ neither circumcision (works) nor uncircumcision (absence of works) availeth anything," which, in its connection, was simply to say that in Christ Jesus works or the absence of works is nothing and avails nothing.
So then works are nothing and the absence of works is nothing. In Christ Jesus neither works nor the lack of works avails anything.
This word of the Lord, therefore, utterly and forever excludes both classes from all merit and from all ground of merit in themselves or in anything they ever did or did not do.
And this is all as true today as ever. Today, whether persons are out of Christ or in Christ, neither works nor no works avail anything. For it is written: "Are you in Christ? Not if you do not acknowledge yourselves erring, helpless, condemned sinners. Your birth, your reputation, your wealth, your talents, your virtues, your piety, your philanthropy, or anything else in you or connected with you, will not form a bond of union between your soul and Christ." --Testimony for the Church, No. 31, pages 44, 45.
What then? Is everybody left in utter emptiness? No, no! Thank the Lord there is something which avails for all and avails forever. Though it be the everlasting truth that in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, neither works nor no works avail anything; yet it is also the eternal truth that in Jesus Christ "Faith which works" does avail. Gal.5:6.
Notice that it is not faith and works that avail; it is "faith WHICH works." It is faith which itself is able to work and does work--it is this and this alone that avails for anybody anywhere at any time.
Faith is only of God and working; it works only the works of God. Thus he who, in Christ Jesus, has the "faith which works," has that which avails to show God manifest in the flesh, working the works of God. And thus "this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." 1 Thess.2:13.
And so, while you are in Christ, "If there is any good in you, it is wholly attributable to the mercy of the compassionate Saviour. Your connection with the church, the manner in which your brethren regard you, will be of no avail unless you believe in Christ. It is not enough to believe about Him; you must believe in Him. You must rely wholly upon His saving grace." --Id., pages 44, 45. A.T. Jones, Lessons on Faith.
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In other words, the only true faith which works is the faith that comes by hearing the voice of God speaking to us in the Scriptures, expecting that word to do what it says and depending upon that word and that word only to accomplish what is expressed in that word. "My word shall accomplish that which I please." Isaiah 55;11. "When you received the word which you heard from us, you did not receive it as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectively works in you that believe." 1 Thess.2;13.
We must rely wholly upon "the word of His grace." Acts 20:32. The apostle Paul speaks of "the Gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24. In verse 32 he says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Notice these words: "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all (other apostles) , yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor.15:10.
In 1 Timothy 1:14 the same apostle Paul says, "And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." The apostle Paul had "the true grace," (1 Peter 5:12) that is, "the grace that brings salvation". Titus 2:11. This grace is immediately with all and upon all who submit to the commandment of the everlasting God: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Romans 16:24,25. This is "the preaching of Jesus Christ" "for obedience to the faith." 24-26.
What the apostle Paul is saying is that the same voice that called the worlds into existence, that said to the earth, "Bring forth grass" and it was so, is the same voice that speaks to us in the Scriptures. To all who are hungering and thirsting for salvation, the word of God to them is, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." "Grace be with you." Col.4:18. The moment we submit to His voice, the grace of Jesus Christ is immediately with us just as it was with the apostle Paul to help our infirmities and to form a Christian character. 1 Cor.15:10. This is "the true grace" which is "exceedingly abundant with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." 1 Tim.1:14; 1 Peter 5:12.
Too many of us, as Mrs. White pointed out, have made the mistake of imagining that we were on probation and that we had to prove to the Lord that we were reformed before we could claim this blessing. She writes, ""These dear souls may claim this blessing even now." Faith and Works, p.38. "Behold, now is the accepted time! Now is the day of salvation!" 2 Cor.6:2. "They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character." Ibid, p.38.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness need not wait one moment that they themselves may blot out their own sins. "They need not wait until they have made a suitable repentance" (F.W.64) before they may take hold of the grace (righteousness) of Christ. The Lord Himself has given the command:
"Grace be with you." Col.4:18.
This is "the word of His grace" which is able to build you up into an habitation of God through the Spirit and to deliver you from every evil work and to preserve you for His heavenly kingdom. See 2 Timothy 4:22,18. And this grace which is thus imparted is in like manner sustained, by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God! To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!" Revelation 22:21.
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p.s. Every one of the ten commandments as spoken by Christ on Sinai is the word of His grace. It is through these promises (every command is a promise) that He imparts to us His grace and power. See Ministry of Healing, p.122; 1 B.C.1105.
"Grant me Thy law graciously." Psalm 119:29. Every commandment proceeding out of the mouth of God is full of grace and truth.
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Topic: the faith WHICH works (Read 9732 times)
