2James 2

Warning against Prejudice

1My friends, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance.Select James 2:1

2Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes.Select James 2:2

3If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, “Have this best seat here,” but say to the poor man, “Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my feet,”Select James 2:3

4then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves and of making judgments based on evil motives.Select James 2:4

5Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.Select James 2:5

6But you dishonor the poor! Who are the ones who oppress you and drag you before the judges? The rich!Select James 2:6

7They are the ones who speak evil of that good name which has been given to you.Select James 2:7

8You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”Select James 2:8

9But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker.Select James 2:9

10Whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all.Select James 2:10

11For the same one who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Even if you do not commit adultery, you have become a lawbreaker if you commit murder.Select James 2:11

12Speak and act as people who will be judged by the law that sets us free.Select James 2:12

13For God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful; but mercy triumphs over judgment.Select James 2:13

Faith and Actions

14My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you?Select James 2:14

15Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat.Select James 2:15

16What good is there in your saying to them, “God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!”—if you don't give them the necessities of life?Select James 2:16

17So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.Select James 2:17

18But someone will say, “One person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.”Select James 2:18

19Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear.Select James 2:19

20You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?Select James 2:20

21How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar.Select James 2:21

22Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions.Select James 2:22

23And the scripture came true that said, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.” And so Abraham was called God's friend.Select James 2:23

24You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.Select James 2:24

25It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.Select James 2:25

26So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.Select James 2:26