Faith Shows Itself In Love

Faith Shows Itself In Love

This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:17

In this passage, Christ repeats the command to love each other. By love, believers are held together, and love is the mark of true believers. Jesus emphasized this command because he knew how many false Christians would arise—how many would praise faith with elegant words and a great show but wouldn’t back up their words. Just as God’s holy name is dishonored and used for evil, and just as Christianity, the church, and everything that is holy are misused, so the names of faith, love, and good works will also be used for a false show and mask. For the devil doesn’t want to be as dark as he is painted, but he wants to shine in the fine clothes of God’s Word, the Christian church, faith, and love.

Christ teaches us that it’s not enough to praise faith and Christ, but we also need to produce Christian fruit. For where these fruits aren’t evident, or where the opposite appears, Christ is certainly not present. In that case, only a false name exists. That’s why we must say to these types of people, “I hear that beautiful and glorious name, which is noble and worthy of honor. But what about you?” Similarly, the evil spirit said to the sons of Sceva, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15).

But some may object, “Doesn’t faith justify and save us without works?” Yes, that’s true. But where’s your faith? How does it show itself ? Faith must never be useless, deaf, dead, or in a state of decay. But it must be a living tree that bursts forth with fruit. That’s the difference between genuine faith and false faith. Where there is true faith, it will show itself in a person’s life.