James 2
Beware of Personal Favoritism
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, athe Lord of glory, with bpartiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: aHas God not chosen the poor of this world to be brich in faith and heirs of the kingdom cwhich He promised to those who love Him? 6 But ayou have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you band drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are acalled?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, a“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as atransgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet astumble in one point, bhe is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, a“Do not commit adultery,” also said, b“Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by athe law of liberty. 13 For ajudgment is without mercy to the one who has shown bno cmercy. dMercy triumphs over judgment.
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 aWhat does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 aIf a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and aone of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” aShow me your faith without your works, band I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works awhen he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see athat faith was working together with his works, and by bworks faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, a“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called bthe friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, awas not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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