Text: Deut: 10:12 "And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,"
Gal.5: 6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
1 John 5:4-6 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.(vs5)Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Premise
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.10, page 290 a comment on Gal.5:6 "Faith inspires love, as love also in truth inspires faith. We believe in and trust the goodness of Christ, and so we are moved to love him. If we did not believe in his love we should never return it. Faith having once roused love exercises itself in promoting the object of love. We trust in the unseen God, we also love him; then we try to please him, to enjoy his favour, and to live in his presence---- object of love; but objects we should never seek if we were not supported and urged on by our belief in and trust to what is beyond our sight and experience."
What Does This Faith That Worketh by Love That Gives Us The Victory Really Mean?:
"THE SECRET OF ITS POWER" "This is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" "Notice: 1. The nature of this faith. It is not the mere intellectual acceptation of a theological proposition or propositions; not the heartless assent which never touches the practice nor moulds the affections." This faith is quite as much a moral as an intellectual act; it is of the heart as well as of the head; and it infuses courage, moulds character, and directs conduct."
Definitions
Victory is defined as 1)The advantage or superiority gained in defeating the enemy or an opponent in battle. 2)Triumph gained by force of arms in the defeat of any enemy in combat, battle or war. 3) Success in any contest, struggle or enterprise or supremacy, superiority or triumph in any effort.
Love is defined as 1) Emphasizing strength, depth, sincerity and warmth of feeling, suggesting also tenderness, as for a child or parent; devotion and loyalty, as to friends or family; reverence as for God; passion as for man or woman, or belief ect. 2)Unselfish, benevolent brotherly concern or affection.
Exposition
1. The Faith That Works Through Love That Yields This Victory Must Be Understood and Embraced as Indispensible and Must be Totally Placed in God--- Heb. 11:6. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
2.The Faith That Works Through Love That Yields Victory Must be Based on and Energized by Our Love for God--- 1 John 4:16-19 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (vs17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (vs18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (vs19) We love him because he first loved us."
3. What Does This Faith That Worketh by Love That Gives Us The Victory Really Mean?:
A. It means that God will give the believer victory over every trial and temptation of life--- 1 Cor. 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
B. It means that God will give the believer victory over all the forces and difficulties of life--- Isa. 43:2 "When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
C. It means that God gives the believer victory over death--- Heb 2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (vs15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
D. It means that God gives the believer victory and joy in judgment for sins--- Rom. 5:8-11 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(vs9) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (vs10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (vs11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
E. It means that God will give the believer victory in bringing us to our ultimate state of perfection---1 Peter 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
F. It means that God will give the believer victory in the end through all of our labor for him --- 1 Cor. 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."