AFV2020 - James - 2

2:1  My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2:2  Now then, if a man comes into your synagogue wearing gold rings and dressed in splendid apparel, and there comes in also a poor man in lowly apparel,

2:3  And you give preference to the one who is wearing the splendid apparel, and say to him, "Seat yourself here in the best place"; and you say to the poor man, "Stand over there," or, "Sit here under my footstool";

2:4  Then have you not passed judgment among yourselves, and have made yourselves judges with evil opinions?

2:5  My beloved brethren, listen. Did not God Himself choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which He has promised to those who love Him?

2:6  But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not drag you into the courts?

2:7  Do they not blaspheme the worthy name by which you are called?

2:8  If you are truly keeping the Royal Law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

2:9  But if you have respect of persons, you are practicing sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors;

2:10  For if anyone keeps the whole law, but sins in one aspect, he becomes guilty of all.

2:11  For He Who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

2:12  In this manner speak and in this manner behave: as those who are about to be judged by the law of freedom.

2:13  For the one who has dealt without mercy will be judged without mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

2:14  My brethren, what good does it do, if anyone says that he has faith, and does not have works? Is faith able to save him?

2:15  Now then, if there be a brother or sister who is naked and destitute of daily food,

2:16  And one of you says to them, "Go in peace; be warmed and be filled," and does not give to them the things necessary for the body, what good is it?

2:17  In the same way also, faith, if it does not have works, is dead, by itself.

2:18  But someone is going to say, "You have faith, and I have works." My answer is: You prove your faith to me through your works, and I will prove my faith to you through my works.

2:19  Do you believe that God is one? You do well to believe this. Even the demons believe—and tremble in fear.

2:20  But are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac, his own son, upon the altar?

2:22  Do you not see that faith was working together with his works, and by works his faith was perfected?

2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Now Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness"; and he was called a friend of God.

2:24  You see, then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

2:25  Now, in the same manner also, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when, after receiving the messengers, she sent them out a different way?

2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, in the same way also, faith without works is dead.