James 2:12-26

12So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by 1the law of freedom. 13For 2judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy 3triumphs over judgment.

144What use is it, 5my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can 6that faith save him? 157If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “8Go in peace, 9be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17In the same way, 10faith also, if it has no works, is 11dead, being by itself.

1812But someone 13may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your 14faith without the works, and I will 15show you my faith 16by my works.” 19You believe that 1718God is one. 19You do well; 20the demons also believe, and shudder. 20But are you willing to acknowledge, 21you foolish person, that 22faith without works is useless? 2123Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that 24faith was working with his works, and 25as a result of the 26works, faith was 27perfected; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “28And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a 29friend of God. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, was 30Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also 31when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also 32faith without works is dead.