Faith works by love

Galatians 5:5-6 "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." 

Genuine faith is motivated by love. 

Faith is not a mere "intellectual" belief. Anyone can believe the facts, but not everyone is moved by the facts/truth they say they believe. They are not moved to action. 

Faith works/operates by love; it impacts our hearts to move us to love God, His Word, and others. 

1 John 4:19-20 "We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" 

When professing Christians are not demonstrating love towards God and others, it is proof of 2 things: 

1. They are not walking by faith, or
2. They are relying on the works of the law for their righteousness. 

True faith is alive, not dead; it is dependent on God and His Word. Faith is not idle but active to obey God out of love, not law. 

To obey God's Word without love distorts the truth and breeds self-righteousness. 

To obey God's Word out of love indicates one is resting in the love of Christ and His righteousness. 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."o edit.