James 2

Don’t Favor Rich People Over Poor People

1 My brothers and sisters, practice your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ by not favoring one person over another.2 For example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes.3 Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.”

4 Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?6 Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into court?

7 Don’t they curse the good name of Jesus, the name that was used to bless you?
8 You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”9 If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient.10 If someone obeys all of God’s laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them.

11 After all, the one who said, “Never commit adultery,” is the same one who said, “Never murder.” If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you become a person who disobeys God’s laws.
12 Talk and act as people who are going to be judged by laws that bring freedom.

13 No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

We Show Our Faith by What We Do

14 My brothers and sisters, what good does it do if someone claims to have faith but doesn’t do any good things? Can this kind of faith save him?15 Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food16 and one of you tells that person, “God be with you! Stay warm, and make sure you eat enough.” If you don’t provide for that person’s physical needs, what good does it do?

17 In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it doesn’t cause you to do any good things.
18 Another person might say, “You have faith, but I do good things.” Show me your faith apart from the good things you do. I will show you my faith by the good things I do.

19 You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.
20 You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless?21 Didn’t our ancestor Abraham receive God’s approval as a result of what he did when he offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice on the altar?22 You see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was shown to be genuine by what he did.23 The Scripture passage came true. It says, “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded by God to be his approval of Abraham.” So Abraham was called God’s friend.24 You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes.

25 The same is true of the prostitute Rahab who welcomed the spies and sent them away on another road. She received God’s approval because of what she did.
26 A body that doesn’t breathet is dead. In the same way faith that does nothing 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.