James 2
Warning against
Partiality |
1 |
My brethren, have not the faith of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of
persons.
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2 |
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;
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3 |
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:
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4 |
are ye not then partial in yourselves,
and are become judges of evil thoughts?
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5 |
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?
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6 |
But ye have despised the poor. Do not
rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment
seats?
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7 |
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by
the which ye are called?
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8 |
If ye fulfil the royal law according to
the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, Lev.
19.18 ye do well:
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9 |
but if ye have respect to persons, ye
commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
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10 |
For whosoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
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11 |
For he that said, Do not commit adultery,
Ex.
20.14 · Deut.
5.18 said also, Do not kill. Ex. 20.13 · Deut. 5.17
Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art
become a transgressor of the law.
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12 |
So speak ye, and so do, as they that
shall be judged by the law of liberty.
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13 |
For he shall have judgment without mercy,
that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against
judgment.
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Faith without Works Is
Dead |
14 |
What doth it profit, my
brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can
faith save him?
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15 |
If a brother or sister be naked, and
destitute of daily food,
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16 |
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?
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17 |
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone.
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18 |
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.
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19 |
Thou believest that there is one God;
thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
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20 |
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead?
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21 |
Was not Abraham our father justified by
works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Gen.
22.1-14
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22 |
Seest thou how faith wrought with his
works, and by works was faith made perfect?
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23 |
And the Scripture was fulfilled which
saith,
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Abraham believed God, |
and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: Gen.
15.6 | |
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and he was called the Friend of God.
2
Chr. 20.7 · Is. 41.8
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24 |
Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only.
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25 |
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot
justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had
sent them out another way? Josh. 2.1-21
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26 |
For as the body without the spirit 1 is
dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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