Is There Faith Without Works or Actions? |
James 2:1-26 The Epistle, [a.k.a. Letter,] of James [in Smaller Chunks] |
My brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers, don't] have respect of persons. [Romans 2:11 For with God, there is no respect of persons, [a.k.a. partiality to people.] |
[Instead have] faith [in] our Lord Jesus Chrst, the Lord of Glory. [Isaiah 17:7-8 [On] that day, a man shall look to his Maker, & his eyes shall [only] have respect [for] the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work [made] [by] his hands, & neither shall [he] respect [what] his fingers have made, either the groves or the images, [a.k.a. idols.] |
For if a man with a gold ring, & [fine clothing,] & also a poor man, in vile raiment, [a.k.a. disgusting clothes, comes] there [into] your assembly; & you have respect, [a.k.a. favoritism,] to him, [who] [wears] the gay, [a.k.a. brightly colored,] clothing, & say to him, You, sit here in a good place. And say to the poor [man in disgusting clothes,] You, stand there, or sit here under, [a.k.a. beside the bottom,] [of] my footstool. |
Then, aren't you [also] partial [within] yourselves, & have become judges [with] evil, [a.k.a. wicked,] thoughts? [Pay attention,] my beloved brethren, [Hasn't] God chosen the poor of this world, [who are] rich in faith, [to be] heirs of the Kingdom, [that God has] promised to [those, who] love Him? [James 1:12 Blessed is the man [who endures] temptation. For when he is tried, [a.k.a. tested,] he shall receive the crown of Life which the Lord [has] promised to [those, who] love Him.] |
But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, & draw, [a.k.a. pull,] you [in front of] the judgment seats? Don't they blaspheme that worthy Name [of Jesus Christ,] by [Whom] you are called? [Acts 11:25-26 Then, Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to seek for Saul, [a.k.a. Paul.] And when [Barnabas] found [Saul,] he brought [Saul] to Anticoch. And it [happened,] that they assembled themselves a whole year, with the church & taught [many] people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.] |
You do well, if you fulfill the Royal Law, according to the Scriptures, You [shall] love your neighbor as yourself. But if you have respect to persons, [a.k.a. favoritism,] you commit [a] sin, & are [convicted] as transgressors [by] the Law [of Moses.] For [whoever keeps] the whole Law, & [still offends] in 1 point, [a.k.a. aspect of the Law,] he is guilty of all [aspects of the Law.] [Galatians 3:11 But it is evident, in the sight of God, no man is justified by the Law. For: The just shall live by faith [in Jesus Christ.] |
For He, [Who] said, Don't commit adultery, also said, Don't kill. Now, if you [don't] commit adultery, [but] if you [still] kill, you [have] become a transgressor of the Law. |
You [shall] speak & do so, [like those, who] shall be judged by the Law of Liberty, [a.k.a. Freedom.] [James 1:25 But [whoever looks] into [God's] perfect Law of Liberty, [a.k.a. Freedom,] & [continues in it,] not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work [of sharing his faith in Jesus Christ,] this man shall be blessed in his [deeds.] |
For he, [who has demonstrated] no mercy, shall have Judgment without mercy. And [those who demonstrate] mercy, [rejoice] against [the Day of] Judgment. [Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain, [a.k.a. receive,] mercy.] |
My brethren, what [does] it [benefit] [you, if] a man [says] he [has] faith, & [doesn't] have works, [a.k.a. deeds?] Can faith save him? [James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask [for it] [from] God, [Who gives] [wisdom] to all men liberally, [a.k.a. generously,] & [doesn't scold.] And it shall be given [to] him. But let him ask in faith, [not] wavering. For he, [who wavers] is like a wave of the sea driven, & with the wind [is] tossed. For [don't] let that man think that he shall [deserve to] receive anything [from] the Lord.] |
If a brother or sister [is] naked, & destitute, [a.k.a. poor,] [without] daily food, & one of you [says] to them, Depart in peace, & you be warmed & filled, [but] you [don't] give them those things which are [necessary] to the body; & what [does] [what you said to them,] [benefit] [them?] [1 John 3:17-18 But [whoever has] this world's [goods, a.k.a. possessions,] & [sees] his brother have [needs,] & [shuts] up his [heart's] compassion from him, [a.k.a. the poor brother,] how does the love of God [dwell] in him? My little children, [a.k.a. inexperienced Christians,] let us not [demonstrate] love [through words,] & tongue, [a.k.a. what you say;] but [through deeds,] & Truth.] |
Even so, faith alone is dead, [a.k.a. ineffective,] if it [doesn't have] works, [a.k.a. actions,] [that reflect that.] [Yes,] a man may say, You [have] faith, & I have works, [a.k.a. actions.] [Demonstrate] your faith [to] me, without your works, & I will [demonstrate] my faith [to] you by my works. |
You, [who] [believe] there is One God, [do] well. The devils, [a.k.a. demons,] also believe, & tremble. [Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole [armor] of God, [so] that you may be able to stand against the wiles, [a.k.a. tricks or plots,] of the devil. For we [don't] wrestle against flesh & blood, but against: principalities; powers; rulers of this [world's] darkness; & against spiritual wickedness in high places.] |
But O vain man, [will] you know that faith without works, [a.k.a. deeds,] is dead? Wasn't Abraham, our [forefather] justified by works, when he offered Isaac, his son upon the altar? [Genesis 22:9-13 And they came to the place, [that] God had told [Abraham about.] And Abraham built an altar there, & laid the wood in order, & bound Isaac, his son, & laid him upon the wood, on the altar. And Abraham stretched [out] his hand, & took the knife to slay his son. And the Angel of the Lord called to [Abraham] out of heaven, & said, Abraham, Abraham. And [Abraham] said, Here I am. And He said, [Don't] lay your hand upon the lad, & neither do anything to him. For now I know that you [fear, a.k.a. respect,] God, [since] you [haven't] withheld your son, your only son from Me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, looked, & [saw] behind him, a ram caught in a thicket by his horns, & Abraham went & took the ram, & offered him up for a burnt offering in the [place] of his son.] |
[Don't] you [see,] how [by] faith, [performed] with his works, [a.k.a. deeds,] [Abraham's] faith was made perfect, [a.k.a. perfected,] by works, [a.k.a. actions?] And the Scripture was fulfilled [that said,] Abraham believed God, & it was imputed, [a.k.a. credited,] to him for righteousness. |
And [Abraham] was called the Friend of God. Then, you see how a man is justified not only by faith, [but he also needs to include] works, [a.k.a. actions.] |
[Also,] wasn't Rahab, the harlot, justified by works, when she received the messengers, & sent them out another way? [Joshua 6:22-23 But Joshua said to the 2 men, [who] spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, & bring out [from] there, the woman & all that she [has, like] you [swore] to her. And the young men, [who] were spies, went in & brought out Rahab, & her: father; mother; brethren, [relatives;] & all that she had, & left them [outside] the camp of Israel.] |
For [like] the body is dead without the spirit, also faith is dead, without works. |