James 2

Treat Everyone the Same

1 My brothers and sisters, you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. So treat everyone the same.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes. And suppose a poor man in worn-out clothes also comes in.3 Would you show special attention to the one who is wearing fine clothes? Would you say, "Here's a good seat for you"? Would you say to the poor person, "You stand there"? Or "Sit on the floor by my feet"?4 If you would, aren't you treating some people better than others? Aren't you like judges who have evil thoughts?
5 My dear brothers and sisters, listen to me. Hasn't God chosen those who are poor in the world's eyes to be rich in faith? Hasn't he chosen them to receive the kingdom? Hasn't he promised it to those who love him?
6 But you have put poor people down. Aren't rich people taking advantage of you? Aren't they dragging you into court?7 Aren't they speaking evil things against the worthy name of Jesus? Remember, you belong to him.
8 The royal law is found in Scripture. It says, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." (Leviticus 19:18) If you really keep that law, you are doing what is right.9 But you sin if you don't treat everyone the same. The law judges you because you have broken it.
10 Suppose you keep the whole law but trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it.11 God said, "Do not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) He also said, "Do not commit murder." (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) Suppose you don't commit adultery but do commit murder. Then you have broken the Law.
12 Speak and act like people who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.13 Those who have not shown mercy will not receive mercy when they are judged. To show mercy is better than to judge.

Show Your Faith by What You Do

14 My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people claim they have faith but don't act like it? Can that kind of faith save them?
15 Suppose a brother or sister has no clothes or food.16 Suppose one of you says to them, "Go. I hope everything turns out fine for you. Keep warm. Eat well." And you do nothing about what they really need. Then what good have you done?
17 It is the same with faith. If it doesn't cause us to do something, it's dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith. I do good works."
Show me your faith that doesn't do good works. And I will show you my faith by what I do.19 You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that. And they tremble!
20 You foolish man! Do you want proof that faith without good works is useless?21 Our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar. Wasn't he considered to be right with God because of what he did?22 So you see that what he believed and what he did were working together. What he did made his faith complete.
23 That is what Scripture means where it says, "Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham because he believed. So his faith made him right with God." (Genesis 15:6) And that's not all. God called Abraham his friend.24 So you see that a person is made right with God by what he does. It doesn't happen only because of what he believes.
25 Didn't God make even Rahab the prostitute right with him? That's because of what she did. She gave the spies a place to stay. Then she sent them off in a different direction.
26 The body without the spirit is dead. In the same way, faith without good works is dead.

James 2

1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.2 For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;4 Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?5 Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?6 But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?7 Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?8 Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:9 but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.12 So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.13 For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.14 What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?15 If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,16 and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.18 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.