Faith Expressed Through Love

Mar 11 2025 - Eric Buresh

Recently, I’ve been meditating on the intersection between faith and love. The gospel and gospel living (abundant life) is all about faith in Christ. Why then is the great commandment all about love? In the NIV version of Galatians 5:6, Paul states that “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Here, then, we see a vital truth: faith is not idle, nor is it mere assent to doctrine—it is a force, a life, a power that manifests itself through love. It is this very principle that our Lord presses in John 15. If we abide in Him, if we truly believe in His love and goodness and sufficiency, then that faith will bear the fruit of love. 

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Love is known by its cost, and there is no costlier love than Christ’s. The highest proof of love is self-giving, and our Lord gave not just a portion, not mere favors or blessings—He gave Himself. He did not only suffer inconvenience for us, but He suffered death, the very wrath of God, the judgment due to our sins. This is the love that faith lays hold of—the love that transforms sinners into saints, enemies into friends. 

But how does such love come to bear fruit in us? It is through faith! Faith is the root, and love is the flower. Faith is the hand that lays hold on Christ, and from Him flows the life that produces love. Christ declares, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” This is not to say that our obedience earns His friendship, but that His friendship produces our obedience. The one who abides in Christ, trusting in Him, will naturally bear the fruit of love. It is faith in Christ that enables love to flourish. 

We cannot manufacture this love in our own strength. If we attempt to love without first resting in Christ, we shall soon find ourselves exhausted and frustrated. Love for God and others is only possible when we live in the reality of Christ’s sufficiency, drawing upon His grace as a branch draws nourishment from the vine. This is why He says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” He has ordained us to bear fruit, but the fruit does not originate in us; it comes through our abiding in Him. 

This is the test of true faith. Many claim to believe in Christ, yet their hearts remain cold, their hands idle in the work of love. But where true faith is found, love will surely follow. A man may say he has faith but let him show it by his love. A faith that does not produce love is no faith at all—it is but an empty profession. If you desire to love more (like our Savior), believe more. If you struggle to love God and others, do not attempt to manufacture that love from your own strength. Instead, go to the fountain—go to Christ. Meditate upon His love for you, believe in His sufficiency, abide in Him, and love will grow like fruit upon a living tree.  

Rest in this: you were not chosen because you first loved Him, but because He first loved you. You do not love in your own strength, but in the strength He supplies. You do not bear fruit alone, but through His life flowing in you. And as you abide in Him by faith, love will increase, for faith expresses itself through love.