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 fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, 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, said also, Do not
kill. 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 shewed no
mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. |
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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: shew
me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew 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? |
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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, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called
the Friend of God. |
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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?
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26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without
works is dead also. |