James 2

1verseMy brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.

2verseFor if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in,

3verseand you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”

4versehaven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5verseListen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

6verseBut you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?

7verseDon’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

8verseHowever, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.

9verseBut if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10verseFor whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

11verseFor he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12verseSo speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

13verseFor judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

14verseWhat good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

15verseAnd if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

16verseand one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

17verseEven so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

18verseYes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19verseYou believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.

20verseBut do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

21verseWasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22verseYou see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.

23verseSo the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.

24verseYou see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.

25verseIn the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26verseFor as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.