James 2
James condemns favoritism in the church, showing partiality based on wealth violates the royal law of love. He argues forcefully that faith without works is dead. Abraham and Rahab demonstrated faith through action. Just as the body without the spirit is dead, faith without deeds is dead.
JamesChapter 2 of 526 versesBerean Standard Bible
If God speaks to you through James 2, record what He said in Doxa and come back to it.
My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
Love your neighbor as yourself — the royal law
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Read Leviticus 19:18›But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?
So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 25: Why was his faith credited to him as righteousness?
'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' James and Paul both quote this — real faith always shows up in how you live.
“Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Read Genesis 15:6›Abraham believed God — James on faith and works
“Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Read Genesis 15:6›As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Read next
How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Cross-references for James 2
“These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.”
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
“All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.””
“But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.
James 2 on Doxa
- Credited as Righteousness: How Abram Was Made Right (Genesis 15) · Quoted in the Deeper Dive, day 25
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If God speaks to you through James 2
Doxa is where you record what God has said to you, in the words it came in, weigh it against Scripture with people you trust, and come back to it in the years that follow.