Note 12 at Gal. 5:6: We might add that no other work of righteousness avails anything either, as far as being justified in the sight of God goes. The truth that Paul was presenting was not about circumcision. Circumcision is no longer an issue. Paul so conclusively disproved that circumcision was essential for salvation that nobody argues that point today. But the same legalistic thinking which Paul countered in these verses lives on today in the doctrine of water baptism (see note 9 at Mk. 16:16, p. 564), church membership, and other acts of holiness which some preach are necessary for salvation.

Paul was simply using circumcision as an example of some act of holiness which the people of his day maintained was necessary for salvation. His point was that faith alone in the love of God as expressed through Jesus is the only thing that God demands for justification. To substitute some other act in the place of circumcision and then proceed as the Galatians had done is to miss the whole message that Paul is presenting.

Note 13 at Gal. 5:6: Paul is saying that faith alone in what Jesus has already done is the only thing that can procure salvation for us. It is true that saving faith is never alone (see note 55 at Mt. 7:21, p. 139) and can be distinguished from all imitations through examining the actions it produces. But the actions of faith (see note 4 at Rom. 9:32, p. 811) are not the cause, but rather the effect. Faith in God's grace is all that's needed (Eph. 2:8).

Note 14 at Gal. 5:6: There are two ways of looking at this phrase, "faith which worketh by love." One way is to say this true, saving faith always expresses itself through love. That is certainly true. A God kind of faith will always have actions that conform to the commands of God's Word. This is the way the NIV translated this verse: "The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love."

It is also accurate to say that love produces faith or is what makes faith work. We naturally trust those who we know love us. A revelation of God's unconditional love for us will make faith just naturally abound in us. Anyone who is struggling with faith has a deficiency in understanding how much God loves him.