My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if
there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and
there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that
weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and
say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not
then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken,
my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith,
and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye
have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the
judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are
called?
If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit
sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep
the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is
guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not
kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a
transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged
by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath
showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
What doth it
profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can
faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body; what doth it
profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man
may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy
works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is
one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou
know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest
thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was
imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye
see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise
also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the
messengers, and had sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
also.
