Galatians 5:6 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Paul shows was really matters in life. The Galatians had gotten caught up in the peripheral, unimportant matters. They had been fooled into thinking that following certain rituals would give them a better standing before God. The key activity for this was circumcision. Circumcision was a practice of Jews stretching back to Abraham. The incision was made to eight-day old males and symbolized their inclusion in the covenant community. Some Jewish Christian missionaries had gone out from Jerusalem preaching that Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised in order to be Christians. Most of these converts would have been adults, so this would have been a painful process. The motivation to be circumcised was eternal life, so the stakes were high.
Paul makes it clear that a physical act does not determine one’s eternal status. Righteousness cannot be gained by following a set of rules, regulations, or laws, no matter how sacred these might be. Christianity is not about cultural practices or ceremonies. What circumcision represents does not matter either. Believers are part of a new covenant community that is determined by circumcision of the heart and not of the flesh (Romans 2:29). Paul is attempting to refocus the Galatians on what is most important. He now applies the principles he gave in the previous verses to the situation in Galatia.
What determines being in Christ Jesus in a relationship that brings eternal life is faith working through love. Faith is total trust in Jesus. It involves shifting our focus on what we want to what he wants. Faith is the only way to live a victorious live that brings joy and peace. Love is how faith starts and grows. Our faith is enabled in the first place because of God’s love working in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Our faith grows as we learn what love is and what love requires of us. In our obedience that comes as a result of faith, we love God and other people with no conditions attached. Love and faith are a couple. One leads to the other and strengthens the other.
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