15
Suppose a brother or a sister is
without clothes and daily food.
16
If one of you says to them,
“Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,”
but does nothing about their physical needs,
what good is it?
17
In the same way, faith by itself,
if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18
But someone will say,
“You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds,
and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
19
You believe that there is one God. Good!
Even the demons believe that — and shudder.
20
You foolish person, do you want evidence
that faith without deeds is useless?
21
Was not our father Abraham
considered righteous for what he did
when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22
You see that his faith and his actions
were working together,
and his faith was made complete
by what he did.
23
And the scripture was fulfilled that says,
“Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness,”
and he was called God’s friend.
24
You see that a person is considered righteous
by what they do and not by faith alone.
Suppose a brother or a sister is
without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to them,
“Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,”
but does nothing about their physical needs,
what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself,
if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
There was a man who had two sons.
He went to the first and said,
“Son, go and work today in the vineyard.”
29
“I will not,” he answered,
but later he changed his mind and went.
30
Then the father went to the other son
and said the same thing.
He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go.
31 Which of the two did what his father wanted?
But someone will say,
“You have faith; I have deeds.”
You believe that there is one God. Good!
Even the demons believe that — and shudder.
“A new command I give you:
Love one another.
As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.
35
By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples,
if you love one another.”
Was not our father Abraham
considered righteous for what he did
when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
After this, the word of the Lord
came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, your very great reward.”
2
But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,
what can you give me since I remain childless
and the one who will inherit my estate
is Eliezer of Damascus?”
4
Then the word of the Lord came to him:
“This man will not be your heir,
but a son who is your own flesh and blood
will be your heir.”
He took him outside and said,
“Look up at the sky and count the stars
– if indeed you can count them.”
Then he said to him,
“So shall your offspring be.”
Abram believed the Lord,
and he credited it to him as righteousness.
You see that a person is considered righteous
by what they do and not by faith alone.
Then God said,
“Take your son, your only son,
whom you love – Isaac –
and go to the region of Moriah.
Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering
on a mountain I will show you.”
You see that his faith and his actions
were working together,
and his faith was made complete
by what he did.
Scripture foresaw that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
and announced the gospel
in advance to Abraham:
“All nations will be blessed through you.”
9
So those who rely on faith
are blessed along with Abraham,
the man of faith.
His faith and his actions
were working together,
and his faith was made complete
by what he did.