Jam 2:11-26 | ESV | STEP | For he who said , Do not commit adultery , also said , Do not murder . If you do not commit adultery but do murder , you have become a transgressor of the law .

11 For he who said, ^a“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^b“Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under ^cthe law of liberty. 13 For ^djudgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith ^ebut does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 ^fIf a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 ^gand one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good ^{▼▼Or benefit} is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith ⁱapart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^jby my works. 19 ^kYou believe that God is one; you do well. Even ^lthe demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 ^mWas not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that ⁿfaith was active along with his works, and faith was completed ^oby his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ^p“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a ^qfriend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also ^rRahab the prostitute justified by works ^swhen she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.