Fallbrook Vineyard Church

We’re going to unpack the concept of faith without works being dead. That part of James 2 is often misunderstood. Yes, we are saved by faith but, our actions should reflect that faith. In the midst of a fallen world, God calls us to live differently. To live according to truth. To walk by faith and show works that prove that faith. The church is called to be salt and light. Without those qualities, the word of God says it is to be thrown out, utterly worthless. But living by the word of God is hope and salvation! Join us as we continue our James series.

Faith without works is dead. That is a heavy statement. What did James mean by this? Does faith count for nothing? James’ own words say it best, “Show me your faith withoutyour works,and I will show you my faith bymy works.” But, we read elsewhere that we are saved by grace through faith. So, which is it? Join us as we wrestle with this topic.

James 2 opens with a warning about partiality in the church. When people visit a church, no one should be treated differently because of their appearance or social status. The church is meant to reflect God’s impartial love for all people. Christ intended his church to be unified and not divided.

Does the Book of James advocate salvation by works? That is an interesting question for the believer to wrestle with. The Book of James is a user's manual for the process after someone becomes a believer. The message of salvation in the Bible is very straightforward. We are saved by grace through faith. But what happens after that? That is the process of sanctification. It is the believer’s response to what Christ has done because we would want to draw closer to Him.

What is the Book of James? If it fits into a genre, it would be the action genre. James is all about faith in action. Faith in Jesus saves us, but our works mark us as a followers of Jesus. A Christian’s life of faith should produce fruit or good works. James is a practical guide for the life of a Christian, tackling how to apply the teachings of Jesus. James raises our awareness of how much we need Jesus because James contains a lot of do’s and don’ts. It makes us painfully aware of our shortcomings and should make us see that we can’t do it on our own.

The story of Joseph. It’s perhaps the most famous story in the Bible. In the story of Joseph we see the beginnings of God’s plan for the redemption of Israel and the rest of the world. Joseph is an archetype or foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Joseph saved his family, Egypt and the surrounding land from a devastating famine. This foreshadows Christ coming first to save Israel, then the surrounding gentiles, then the entire world. The parallels are quite amazing! Listen and learn more!

The biblical patriarchs. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Genesis, God establishes the same covenant with all three of these pivotal characters in Genesis. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation and to give him the land of Canaan. The crazy thing is, at the time, Abraham and his wife were well beyond child bearing years. What is impossible for man is indeed possible for God! Today the Israelite people are indeed a great nation. God’s promises never fall. This pattern is repeated again for Isaac and Jacob. Learn the story of the biblical patriarchs and rest assured that God’s promises always come true.

Genesis forms the foundation of the rest of the Bible. It shapes our understanding of the Gospel and answers life’s hardest questions. How did we get here? God created us. We didn’t arrive here by chance. Why do bad things happen? Man’s rebellion against God introduced sin into the world. Is God perfect and just? God judged the world with a global flood, saving Noah and his family. God later sent Jesus Christ to save the world from sin. There are many more questions Genesis answers. Watch and listen to learn more.

Outdoor worship at Fallbrook Vineyard Church

Outdoor worship at Fallbrook Vineyard Church

Outdoor worship at Fallbrook Vineyard Church Image by Jason Goh from Pixabay