Happy Sunday, friends! We’re going to get deep real quick here. I had a really rough night last night. The darkness of the night and the darkness of my thoughts was just really not a good combination. So this morning I woke up so tired and puffy-eyed, and I really did not want to go to church! I was running late and I was ready to just stay home and watch the service online. But oh, how glad I am that the Lord somehow got me to church! The worship songs, the service, and the fellowship really strengthened me in the Lord again and pointed me back to the Light! I’d really encourage you to listen to the worship songs we used to the praise the Lord this morning: “This is Amazing Grace” by Phil Wickham, “You are Holy” by Michael W. Smith, “You’re Worthy of my Praise” by David Ruis, “In Christ Alone,” and “Be Still my Soul.” Now onto today’s sermon recap… all about true faith.

Follow along with these verses!

• Romans 3:23-25
• 1 Corinthians 15:14
• Galatians 3:21-22
• Ephesians 2:8-10
• James 2:14-26
• Isaiah 58:6-14
• Matthew 25:31-46
• Matthew 5:16

Alright, it’s sermon recap time.

Oh, what wonder fills my heart to know that I am saved through faith as a gift from God! In order to be saved, all we have to do is believe that Jesus is the Son of God Who died on the cross for our sins and then rose again three days later in order that we may live forever with Him (Romans 3:23-25, 1 Corinthians 5:14). We definitely could never do enough to earn that kind of salvation and redemption on our own (Galatians 3:21-22). That’s why Paul says that salvation comes by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). What an incredible thing to place your faith in Christ and receive redemption and adoption as a child of God! We ought to be ever so grateful for His act of mercy and love. And how should we show our gratitude and shine God’s light into the world so that others may receive this wonderful gift, as well? By doing the good deeds which God has laid out for us in His Word!

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

James 2:14, 17 NLT

True faith in God produces good deeds, and it should radically change the way we live our lives. We ought to exercise our faith in such a way that people can see the love of God in us as we share the Gospel. Let’s not be hypocritical. If we say we have faith in God, let’s act like we have faith in God! That thought is so simple, yet so convicting and difficult to carry out.

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

James 2:18 NLT

You see, we can’t just try to be “good people” and hope that gets us into heaven. We can never be good enough on our own (Galatians 3:21-22). Only by the sacrifice of Jesus can we be cleansed before God. So, in order to live out our faith, what kinds of good deeds does Jesus have in mind for us to do? He gives some examples:

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Matthew 25:34-36, 40 NLT

Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be bright as noon.

Isaiah 58:10 NLT

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:16 NLT

Show the love and compassion of Jesus to those who need help. Don’t turn your back on them and pass the “burden” along to somebody else. Follow the example of Jesus in how He cared for the poor and the sick – he didn’t treat them like burdens! He treated them as the valuable, precious creations they are.