Faith Worketh By Love

Q: What does the Bible say about faith working by love?

The Bible, specifically in Galatians 5:6, teaches that 'faith works by love,' indicating that true faith results in loving actions. In Galatians 5:6, the Apostle Paul emphasizes that saving faith is not merely intellectual agreement but is active and transformative, working through love. This means that believers, motivated by love, engage in good works, not out of obligation or fear, but because they genuinely desire to honor God. Paul contrasts this with the legalistic tendencies of false teachers who insist on adherence to the law for justification. Instead, true faith leads to a life of love and service, reflecting a heart changed by God's grace.

Q: How do we know that salvation is by grace alone?

Salvation is by grace alone as affirmed in Ephesians 2:8-9, which states it is the gift of God, not based on works. Scripture consistently attests to salvation by grace alone, most notably in Ephesians 2:8-9, which declares that we are saved through faith, and this is a gift from God, not a result of our works. This doctrine underscores that human efforts cannot contribute to our justification before God. The entire message of the New Testament centers on the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice as the basis for our acceptance before God. Any addition of works or law undermines the grace of God, as indicated by Paul's stern warning in Galatians against embracing a 'different gospel.'

Q: Why is it important for Christians to bear one another's burdens?

Bearing one another's burdens is essential as it fulfills the law of Christ, promoting love and compassion among believers. In Galatians 6:2, Paul instructs believers to 'bear one another's burdens,' which is a practical expression of love and community within the body of Christ. This principle is rooted in the understanding that all Christians are part of one another, with a shared responsibility to support and uplift each other in times of weakness or struggle. By helping one another, we reflect the love of Christ and fulfill His command to love one another. This act of bearing burdens fosters unity, compassion, and demonstrates the grace we've received from God in our own lives.

Q: What is the attitude Christians should have towards their pastors?

Christians should generously support their pastors, as indicated in Galatians 6:6, recognizing their labor in teaching the Word. Galatians 6:6 encourages believers to share all good things with those who teach them the Word of God, highlighting the importance of supporting faithful pastors. This principle reminds Christians that those who dedicate their lives to preaching and teaching the Scriptures deserve attention and care for their material needs. By providing support, believers affirm their appreciation for the spiritual guidance received and foster an environment where the gospel can be preached and taught effectively. This support is a tangible expression of love and gratitude, acknowledging the significant role pastors play in nurturing the faith of their communities.

The title of my message today
is Faith Worketh by Love. Faith Worketh by Love. Now, if you want to follow in
your Bibles, I'm going, like I did last week, verse by verse. And today we're going to look
at Galatians chapter 6. Galatians, the 6th chapter. And
we'll begin there with verse 1 of chapter 6. While you're
finding the Scripture, let me make two or three introductory
comments that are necessary to prepare you for the message on
faith worketh by love. Now, some of you, I'm sure, are
familiar with the Epistle to the Galatians. Paul wrote it. The Apostle Paul had planted
several churches in Galatia. There were several churches there.
He preached there. He ministered there for a while. Well, Paul was now a prisoner
in Rome, and his ministry was nearing its end. Paul wouldn't
see these people again. And some, he had heard, word
had come to him that some false preachers, and there are lots
of those, had crept into these churches. False preachers had
come into these churches after Paul left. and had led many people
away from the gospel of free grace in Christ. These false
preachers came in and they, oh, it's all right to believe on
Jesus. It's all right to trust in Jesus. But these teachers,
these false preachers, insisted it was necessary in order to
be saved. It was necessary to observe the
Levitical law, keep Sabbath days certain holy days and observe
certain ordinances and laws, you know, touch not, taste not,
handle not, keep days, pay tithes, follow the law, keep all these
things, you know, to perfection. And in that way, you'll be justified
and sanctified. And Paul wrote this epistle combating
this false message. and warning the people against
these false preachers. That's where he starts out this
book of Galatians. He said, he said, I'm amazed,
I'm amazed that you have so soon departed from the gospel of God's
grace to another gospel, which is not another gospel. It's a
perversion of the gospel of God's grace. And he said, I don't care
if an angel from heaven comes down there and adds something
to Christ, let him be accursed. I don't care if an angel from
heaven comes down there and tells you it's necessary to be baptized
or to keep a holy day or to keep a Sabbath or to give a tithe
or to keep a certain ordinance or to do these certain things
and eat certain things and withdraw yourself in certain things added
to Christ. He says, not so. We're saved
by Christ alone. We're saved by grace alone. It's
not our works that save us, it's Christ that saves us. It's not
our works, it's His work. It's not our righteousness, it's
His righteousness. It's not our obedience, it's
His obedience. And we're redeemed freely, solely,
completely, wholly by the life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ,
not by Christ plus anything. Paul wrote in Ephesians, "...for
by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves.
It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."
We're God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus. It's not by
works of righteousness which we've done. It's according to
His mercy that He has saved us. "...by the deeds of the law shall
no flesh be justified." In the flesh, well, it's no good thing.
That's what Paul is battling here. is this subtle, satanic,
and crafty way that people come in saying, well, you know, you're
supposed to believe, but, but, you're supposed to trust Christ,
but, oh no, there's nothing. It's Christ alone. In Him, we're
justified. In Him, we're sanctified. In
Him, we're made righteous. In Him, we're accepted. In Him,
we're holy and unblameable. He purchased peace for us by
the blood of His cross. And you don't add anything to
Christ. Christ is all and in all. You're complete in Him,
the Word of God said. And that's what Paul's battling
here in the book of Galatians. But, but, lest any person should
be deceived into thinking that those who believe in Christ and
those who believe in the grace of God have no works. But lest
anyone should be deceived into thinking that works of righteousness
and works of holiness are not important. The Apostle Paul closes
this book in Galatians 5 verse 6 with these words, faith works. Faith works, not to be saved. Faith works because it's saved. Faith works by love. You take
your Bible in Galatians 5 verse 6 and underscore that. Faith
works. Saving faith works. True faith works, not by law,
by love. By love, that's right. The believer
works, not by law, not under a whip. He works by love. The believer serves God. Not
because he has to, but because he wants to. The believer's fruit
is not the fruit of law. It's the fruit of the Spirit
and love. That's right. Oh yeah, the believer
labors. He has a labor of love. He works,
but faith worketh by love. Oh yeah, don't get it backwards.
The believer's not working for a reward. He's not working because
he's a fearful of hell. He's not working because somebody's
holding a law over him. He's not serving God because
somebody's about to lay the whip to his bare back. He's serving
God and working and laboring in the kingdom of God and walking
in a path of holiness because he wants to, he loves to, he
longs to please his Lord. I contend with the Apostle Paul
that the most generous, obedient, Loving, faithful, honest, kindest
people in this world are not legalists. They're not Pharisees. They're not religionists. They're
not people working their way to heaven. Those are usually
the meanest people on earth. But the kindest, most generous,
gracious people in this world are those who believe salvation
is by grace alone. That's right. The most honest,
kindest, warmest, generous people on earth are the people who believe
that salvation is by the grace and mercy of Almighty God in
Jesus Christ alone, plus nothing, minus nothing. And they're motivated
to works of faith and labor of love, not out of law or duty
or for reward, but solely, totally, completely because they love
the Son of God. That's their whole motive. That's
the very foundation and basis of everything they do, say, and
give. Their message is saved by grace
alone, labor by love alone. Saved by grace alone, labor by
love alone. Not by rules and not by laws,
but by love. You see, my friends, true religion
is not a shell. It has a heart. True religion
is not a veneer. It's a spirit. True religion
and salvation is a heart work. By the power of God, a person
is made a new creature in Jesus Christ and has a change in attitude. He has a change in mind. Not
in order to be saved, but because he has been saved. Not in order
to be accepted. That change is not wrought in
order to be accepted of God. That change is wrought in his
mind and heart and soul because he has been accepted of God.
We love him because he loved us, not in order to merit his
love. We love him because he first
loved us. Now then, come down to chapter
6 of Galatians, chapter 6, verse 1, chapter 6. Paul picks up this
theme. He's gone through this whole
book contending for salvation by grace alone Holding up the
banner of the Lord Jesus Christ and his redemptive mercy Christ
alone But he defends the fact that true believers will labor
work and Honor God in their lives because they love him not motivated
by any other reason. He picks it up in chapter 6 and
deals with the believer's attitude and conduct in several cases. Now, stay with me. I'm going
to give you a few of these. Now, number 1, in verse 1, the apostle
here gives us the attitude of the believer toward others, toward
others, especially the weak. He says in verse 1, Galatians
6, Brethren, brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you
which are spiritual, mature, restore, restore such a one in
the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Now watch this attitude. Children
of God, are redeemed by Christ, and they are indwelt by the Holy
Spirit." That's true. Is it not? You know that it is.
And they do desire to honor God. They desire to walk in righteousness. They desire to bring glory to
their Lord. That's their desire. Paul said,
I delight in the law after the inward man. But I find another
problem, Paul says. The things I would do, I don't
do. The things I would not do, I do. Children of God are still
human. Children of God still reside
in a body of flesh. And the motions of sin and the
flesh are real. And they're subject to sin and
they're subject to failure. All of them are. You are. I am. Anyone else is who's a believer.
Therefore, Paul said, If a brother or a sister falls into sin, whether
it be sin of spirit, or attitude, or flesh, or conduct, or action,
or whatever, what are you going to do? Exclude them? No. Wound them? No. Avoid them? No. Criticize them? No. Restore them. Receive them. Recover them. Help them. Be a brother, be a friend, be
a sympathizer. Why? Well, the foundation's twofold. Because God forgave you. That's the first reason. Be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God,
for Christ's sake, forgave you. You know something about forgiveness,
so you show it. You know something about mercy,
so you give it. You know something about love,
so you show it. That's the first reason. But the second reason
is this, considering yourself, watch out now. You might be tempted
to do the same thing or to say the same thing. So there's the
twofold foundation for recovering and restoring those that are
weak and those that are frail because God showed mercy to us
and because we might need it a whole lot more tomorrow. All
right, look at verse 2, bear one another's burden. What's
this burden stuff? Well, bear one another's faults,
bear one another's weaknesses, bear one another's infirmities,
bear one another's failures. We all have them. True love beareth
all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all
things, and so fulfill the royal law of King Jesus. You see that? So fulfill the law of Christ.
What's the law of Christ? He said, this is my commandment,
that you love one another as I love you. Now, boy, you don't
need a rule written on the church wall to carry out this sort of
attitude, do you? This sort of attitude is born
in here. It's not written on paper or
tablets of stone or church walls. Do this now. We covenant that
we'll do this, that, and the other. Baloney. It's got to be
in your heart. And when it's in here, you don't
need it on that wall. If it ever gets in your heart,
you can take it off the wall. That's exactly right. That's
the right attitude toward others. All right, notice verse 3 and
4. Here's our attitude toward ourselves. Verse 3 says, now,
if a man, he said in verse 2, considering yourself, what are
we going to come up with when we consider ourselves? Well,
if a man thinks himself to be something, When he's nothing,
he's deceived. He's deceived. Now, I know in
Christ, believers are justified. They are something in Christ.
In Christ, we're sanctified. We're righteous. We're holy,
unblameable before God in Him, in Christ. But in ourselves,
you know what we are? Nothing. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Considered
in ourselves, we're nothing. Paul said, I'm not one whit behind
the chief apostle in office, though I be nothing. He said,
I'm less than the least of all the saints. He said, I'm the
chief of sinners. Why would a man think himself
to be something? You know, it says here, if a
man think himself to be something, he's nothing. Why would he think
himself to be something? Why would he make that statement
found over there in Isaiah, stand by thyself, Don't come near me,
I'm holier than thou." God says, that's smoke in my nose. The
only reason why a man would think himself to be something when
he's nothing is he's comparing himself to the fallen brother. That's what he's doing. He's
comparing himself to the fallen brother. He's like the Pharisee
in the temple who said, I'm not like that publica. I'll tell you what the Pharisee
needed to do, turn his eyes toward heaven instead of toward that
publican. And that's what our Lord is saying
here. He said, if a brother be overtaken in a fault, restore
him, considering yourself, lest you be tempted. Because if you
think, as you see him fall, that you're not capable, if you think,
seeing him down in the dust, that you're any better, you're
comparing yourself with him. then you're nothing, and you're
a deceived man, a deceived man. Now, verse 4, let a man prove
his life and prove his work in the light of God's holiness,
not comparing himself with somebody else. But you compare yourself
with God. And if you, comparing yourself
with Almighty God, can see a little bit of grace and a little bit
of mercy and a little bit of love and a little bit of growth,
then you can rejoice in that, that God has given it to you.
not by comparing yourself with somebody else. He said, when
we compare ourselves with ourselves, we're not wise. We're fools. Well, that's our attitude toward
others, one of compassion, tenderness, kindness, forgiveness. Our attitude
toward ourselves, we're nothing. We're nothing. All right, look
at verse 6. Our attitude toward those who
labor in the gospel, Now I want you to listen to me a few moments
very carefully. I want to keep the right attitude
here and the right spirit. And I want to speak kindly, but
this is a very important point. Our attitude toward those who
labor in the gospel. Look at verse 6. Let him that
is taught in the word communicate or give or assist him that teaches
Him that teacheth the Word in all things." In other words,
if you have a pastor, a faithful pastor, who studies and who labors
and who preaches and who teaches you the Word of God, you support
him, you take care of him, you take care of his material needs.
That's what that's saying. If you're taught in the Word,
If you've come to know Christ under a man's ministry and you've
been taught in the Word, he's communicated to you the things
of God, studied and prepared and brought you the truth of
the gospel, then you support him. You render unto him those
natural, material things that he has need of. Churches should
support faithful pastors. Those that preach the gospel
are to live by the gospel. No man goes to war at his own
expense. One does not muzzle an ox that
treads out his corn, does he? You take, for example, I'm here
preaching this message. This message is being preached
in the TV studios of Channel 13, being prepared right here.
And I began work on these messages this morning at 7 o'clock. I
worked all day long on these messages to preach to you tonight,
to teach you the Word of God. Yesterday I preached three times
on Sunday. I worked all day Saturday and
Friday the day before. preparing to teach our people,
verse by verse, the Word of God. We've gone through, I've written
commentaries from Romans 1, clear through the last verse of Jude,
Bible illustrations from the Old Testament, 90 lessons, all
the book of John, verse by verse, to teach our people. And what
the apostle is saying here, our attitude towards those that preach
and teach faithfully, I'm not talking about false prophets
Shastras and con men and merchandises of souls and hucksters and phonies
and parasites I'm not talking about those people. I'm talking
about these faithful pastors and faithful preachers and faithful
teachers that labor in the Word of God and teach God's people
and he said let him that's taught in the Word be generous and communicate
and give and assist that person who teaches you the Word of God.
Now, I know this, and television's the worst place in the world
for this. There's so many con men, I see them, phonies, parasites,
who are mistreating God's people. They're majoring on finances,
millions, they're majoring on money, majoring on buying and
selling, pleading with you to send them your money, send them
your money, send them your money. Make out a check every month.
Join this club. Join that club. Join the other
club. Some of these programs, they
preach 10 minutes and beg 20 minutes. That's evil. God's not
in that. Now, let me tell you something.
I've been on this station 17 years. I mentioned a few moments
ago, this is number 776 program. And we've never asked you for
one dime. We've never had a telethon. I've never given away TV offer
number 427 and charged you twice what it was worth. I send you
tapes for $2. We can't put them out for that.
God will supply our needs. God will meet our needs. If God's
in a preacher's ministry and in his message, God will supply
his needs. We have never had to ask for
a thing. God's people give because they
want to. You stop giving to those parasites
and con men and financial wizards and adding to their luxurious
living. Just stop doing it. Don't be
motivated by all these threats and promises of reward and coercion. God's not going to reward you
because you send some money to a TV evangelist. If you're blessed
and taught in the Word of God, And God has taught you his truth
through a faithful preacher. Help him. Give to him. Keep him
preaching the gospel. Take care of his material needs.
But don't pay any attention to these money raisers and telethons
and all these things, begging, begging. God's not a beggar. He's a king. And my God said
this, if I were hungry, I wouldn't ask you. And you know, when the
rich kings tried to make Abraham rich, he wouldn't take a dime
from them. He said, I've lifted my hand
to God and he'll meet my need. And that's the way every true
preacher, if a man's a true preacher, he's not going to beg. He's not
going to say this is a work of faith. And if you don't send
some money and we're going off the air, my friend, I love you,
but we're not going off the air till God puts us off there. And
we don't need one dime from one person in this world. We're not
going to sell anything or beg or carry on a telethon. That's
evil. And I'm telling you, stop giving
to these people. You're just making them rich.
And they have no heart and no conscience. And if they really
were God's preachers, they wouldn't mention it. They'd pray about
the matter and God would supply the need. I'm telling the truth.
I'm telling the truth. And you're foolish to send your
social security checks, and you people can't afford to at all.
Don't send it to them. They're crooks. If a man preaches
the gospel and preaches the Word of God, and he's God's man, God
will supply his needs, and he won't beg from anybody. Now,
that's just so. Is that hard? But it's true.
And our attitude toward those people ought to be to cut them
off. And our attitude toward that true pastor you have down
there and that true loving teacher and guide in the Word of God,
you take care of him and take care of that local church and
God will meet the need. All right. Notice verse, down
here in verse 9, our attitude toward God's providence and the
results. He said in verse 9, let's not
be weary in well-doing. In due season, we'll reap if
we won't be discouraged, if we won't quit. Don't grow weary
in well-doing. I know some of you help others,
you cook for others, you go clean up people's houses, you give
to the church, and sometimes you get weary. And I'll tell
you why. I'll tell you why. Some of us in gratitude, in gratitude. Folks just don't seem to be thankful.
But don't quit now. Sometimes you get disappointed
in people. I've been pastor over there in Ashland 39 years. And
we have people come to the church, we buy groceries, we buy medicine,
we pay rent, we pay utility bills. I rarely ever get a thank you
note. Rarely anybody ever calls and says, thank you. Rarely.
Well, I'm not going to quit. Don't be disappointed in people.
You get criticism, what have you done for me lately? Lack
of cooperation, so little results, but don't quit. He said, don't
quit. Don't be weary in well-doing. Don't be disappointed. Don't
faint. He said, you'll reap in due season. You see, my friends, God knows
what you're doing. God knows what you're giving.
God knows how you're serving. And God knows your heart. And
you're not doing it for other people's praise anyway. You're
doing it because you love Him. You're doing it as unto the Lord.
You see, when you help somebody, you're helping them. And they're
reaping the benefits. But you're doing it because you
love God. You're doing it because you're His child. You're doing
it because you're His ambassador. So don't quit. And don't faint. And don't grow weary. Just keep
on. Keep on. And He says, as you have opportunity.
Now listen, don't sin what you don't have. Don't give what you
don't have. Don't promise what you don't have. As you have opportunity,
do good to all men, especially those of the household of faith.
But God never intended for people to give what they don't have.
Don't promise what you're going to give next year. You don't
know where you're going to be next year, what you're going
to have. Do what you can with what God's given you right now.
That's it. All right. If you want this message,
it's called Faith Worketh by Love. You write to me. I'll send
$2. That'll help us cover the expense. I'll send it to you. Until next
week, God bless you, everyone.

Faith Worketh By Love

What does the Bible say about faith working by love?

How do we know that salvation is by grace alone?

Why is it important for Christians to bear one another's burdens?

What is the attitude Christians should have towards their pastors?

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About Henry Mahan

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Faith Worketh By Love

What does the Bible say about faith working by love?

How do we know that salvation is by grace alone?

Why is it important for Christians to bear one another's burdens?

What is the attitude Christians should have towards their pastors?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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