Faith, Part 2 of 3预览

Faith cannot do without love

“… And if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)

Faith, hope and love are crucial elements of the Christian faith. So important, in fact, that none of the three can be missed. In Galatians 5:6 (NIV), we read that faith “expresses itself through love.” Faith without love is “nothing,” 1 Corinthians 13 affirms. Even if we could do spectacular miracles by faith and everyone would be impressed by them - that is worth nothing if it is not accompanied by love. Love, at first glance, seems less spectacular than other spiritual gifts such as “miracles, gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.” Yet the Bible says that love is even “more excellent.” The Lord God does not primarily pay attention to outward deeds, but to the attitude of our hearts.

Faith that expresses itself through love is focused on God and other people. A loveless person, on the other hand, is focused only on himself and his own benefit. This cannot coexist with a life with God. For God Himself is love. If you are connected to Him by faith, you will also be nourished and shaped by His love. Otherwise, your faith is not real.

Do you personally sense a connection between faith and love in your life?