"only faith"
"It is in the Spirit that we eagerly await the justification we hope for, and only faith can yield it." —Galatians 5:5
By faith, we are justified with God. If we look for justification in anything else, we take on "the yoke of slavery a second time" (Gal 5:1), "are bound to the law in its entirety" (Gal 5:3), sever ourselves from Christ, and fall from God's favor (Gal 5:4).
The Galatians did not think their reliance on circumcision would have such dire effects. We likewise are surprised when our lives begin to fall apart, when what we did was substitute our faith in Christ with a good idea, religious practice, or new program. These things may be good but what counts is "only faith, which expresses itself through love" (Gal 5:6).
The Christian life is centered on our faith-relationship with Jesus (Gal 2:20). All other things must serve that relationship or they will harm it. "All depends on faith" (Rm 4:16).
Prayer: "Jesus, my Lord, my God, my All. How can I love You as I ought?"
Promise: "If you give what you have as alms, all will be wiped clean for you." —Lk 11:41
Praise: Alice expresses her faith in love by ministering to unwed mothers, a ministry for which she has a special heart since she herself was one.
Reference: (To grow in faith read God's book, the Bible, every day. We have several tape series that may help you. Overview of the Bible is six audio tapes starting with AV 10A-1 or three video tapes starting with V-10A. 15-minute Bible Teaching - New Testament is forty audio tapes starting with #700. An introduction to each Book of the Bible is thirty-two audio tapes starting with AV 21-1 or seventeen video tapes starting with V-21.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, March 30, 2004
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 1, 2004