The Law of Love
James 2, verse 1. My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. James 2, verse 2. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, James 2, verse 3. and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” James 2, verse 4. have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2, verse 5. Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? James 2, verse 6. But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? James 2, verse 7. Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called? James 2, verse 8. If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; James 2, verse 9. but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2, verse 10. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2, verse 11. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. James 2, verse 12. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. James 2, verse 13. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Faith that Works
James 2, verse 14. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James 2, verse 15. If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, James 2, verse 16. and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? James 2, verse 17. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2, verse 18. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2, verse 19. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! James 2, verse 20. But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? James 2, verse 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? James 2, verse 22. Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? James 2, verse 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2, verse 24. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. James 2, verse 25. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? James 2, verse 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.