What good is faith without deeds?

 

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.

2

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

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If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"

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have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

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But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

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Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

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If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," ^[1] you are doing right.

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But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

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For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

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For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," ^[2] also said, "Do not murder." ^[3] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

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Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

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because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

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What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

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Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

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If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

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In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

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But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

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You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.

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You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ^[4] ?

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Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

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You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

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And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," ^[5] and he was called God's friend.

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You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

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In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

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As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

1. [8] Lev. 19:18
2. [11] Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
3. [11] Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17
4. [20] Some early manuscripts dead
5. [23] Gen. 15:6