Faith in Action: Living the Gospel Through Deeds (02/12/'24)*

Faith in Action: Living the Gospel Through Deeds The core message of the gospel of Jesus Christ sheds light on how God wants us to live, highlighting behaviors that stray from this ideal. These missteps are essentially what we understand as sin. Human actions that disturb peace and natural order are often the root of such sins. However, through the process of repentance and embracing the gospel with faith, the Holy Spirit aids us in recognizing our mistakes, helps us return to our original purpose, and frees us from our sinful tendencies. The gospel values words for their deep meanings, but it is through actions that true comprehension and living out of these teachings are achieved. While people often value and spread the gospel through written words, Jesus Christ demonstrated the importance of actions over words. He showed that words alone are not enough, as highlighted in John 20:25, and instead, led by example to help people understand and live according to God's Word. Following Christ's teachings means putting the gospel into action, embodying its truths through our deeds rather than solely through our words. This is echoed in James 2:14-26, which states, "Faith without works is dead." This passage emphasizes that genuine faith is manifested through actions that align with the teachings of the gospel, thereby fulfilling God's intended design for humanity. -Pastor Steven G. Lee (February 13, 2024)