James 2:17-26

The Voice

¹⁷The same is true with faith. Without actions, faith is useless. By itself, it’s as good as dead. ¹⁸I know what you’re thinking: “OK, you have faith. And I have actions. Now let’s see your faith without works, and I’ll show you a faith that works.”

Don’t you realize that faith without works is useless, like a glove without a hand or a hat without a head?

¹⁹Do you think that just believing there’s one God is going to get you anywhere? The demons believe that, too, and it terrifies them! ²⁰The fact is, faith has to show itself through works performed in faith. If you don’t recognize that, then you’re an empty soul. ²¹Wasn’t our father Abraham made right with God by laying his son Isaac on the altar? ²²The faith in his heart was made known in his behavior. In fact, his commitment was perfected by his obedience. ²³That’s what Scripture means when it says, “Abraham entrusted himself to God, and God credited him with righteousness.”^[a] And living a faithful life earned Abraham the title of “God’s friend.”^[b] ²⁴Just like our father in the faith, we are made right with God through good works, not simply by what we believe or think. ²⁵Even Rahab the prostitute was made right with God by hiding the spies and aiding in their escape.^[c] ²⁶Removing action from faith is like removing breath from a body. All you have left is a corpse.