We’ve read the Hall of Faith in Hebrews and hear the great stories of the giants of faith. People who have overcome great obstacles to follow and obey God. But do you understand that these people were just normal, everyday people like you? They were just people who decided that the only way to live life right was to follow God 100 percent. No shortcuts. Pastor Mark will remind us that faith without action is dead BUT faith with action is alive and useful. He will challenge us to step out in faith and become all that God wants you to be.

Pastor Mark opens todays teaching reminding us of the story of Abraham and Isaac. God had asked Abraham to do the impossible thing…sacrifice his one and only son. Abraham didn’t doubt God’s plans. He knew that God’s ways and plans are perfect and all that he had to do was to obey. God would do what He had promised to do. How often are we asked to do what may seem an impossible thing by God? How often have we questioned God to be sure He really knew what was going on? Real faith believes and obeys God.

Have you ever heard God to tell you to do something that just seems just way to impossible to do? Have people even told you were crazy to attempt to do that thing? Today on Lessons for Living, Pastor Mark will tell us that real faith defeats doubt and will move us into action. So, we can move on with what may seem to be an impossible task from God because He gives us complete confidence that He will do what He said…what He has promised to do through us. As we have learned already, real faith always has action, works or fruit.

Some people believe that if they are a good person, do lots of good deeds, then they will go to Heaven. Pastor Mark tells us that salvation does not work that way. A person is not saved by faith and works. A person is saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. When we see the fruit or the good deeds come out of someone’s faith then we know for certain that this person is a Christ Follower. See, our lives must be changed when we walk and follow Jesus Christ. There is no way that they can’t be if we are truly following Jesus.

So, once I’m saved, then that’s it…right? I don’t need to do anything else…right? Pastor Mark will tell us today on Lessons for Living that real faith is never alone. There will always be actions, works or fruit. These actions and good works and fruit are the proof that our faith is real saving faith. Our faith must be alive and in action. Jesus was a great example of this for us. Everywhere He went, He SHOWED people His love through actions. In fact the greatest way He showed us His love by one action…His death on the cross.

Pastor Mark begins today’s teaching by asking us, “How do you know that you are REALLY saved, really born again, really for sure going to Heaven?” It’s a question that all of us should take a good look at and take the time to answer. Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He is divine? Do you believe that Jesus has all power and authority? Do you have complete confidence that God will do what He said? These are the first steps to having the kind of faith God talks about in the Bible.

Do you feel like a relationship with God is just about following a bunch of rules? Pastor Mark tells us that being a good parent sometimes saying no to your child. Would you let your child touch something hot and get injured just so he learns a lesson? Probably not. The same is with God. He gives us these rules to protect us from injuring ourselves. He sees all of the dangers and pitfalls around us. He wants to protect us from those things. If you have disobeyed there is grace and Pastor Mark tells us to come home and ask for forgiveness.

The Book of James tells us that if we show favoritism than we are sinning. Have you ever looked at it that way? Pastor Mark will show us that even in this we need to obey God’s law. God does not allow selective obedience. He wants us to obey Him in everything. But God knows us and knows that we are not perfect. We will sin. So, He made a way for us to be forgiven. The Bible tells us that everyone is saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. Where do stand with Jesus Christ? Have you asked Him to forgive you of your sins?

Pastor Mark reminds us today that James told us that everyone is created equal and we are not to show favoritism. Every creature has value in God’s eyes because they are created in His image. Yet, every person is a sinner and deserving of God’s displeasure. We will see that in James 2:8 God tells us how not to show favoritism. He tells us to “love our neighbor as yourself.” Loving your neighbor as yourself means wanting the same thing for others that you want for yourself. True worship of God means wanting those good and Godly things for your neighbor as well as yourself.

Every person is a fallen, created person, regardless of their wealth or religious stature. And every person is loved by God with a love that seeks to remedy our eternal need…equally! Pastor Mark reminds us that when we see a person, rich or poor, attractive or not, Christian or Muslim, we need to remember that God loves him with an unconditional love. It is not always a popular position to take, but as Christians, we must follow what God says in His Word. That He came to love the World…the whole world…not just for some.