GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
14 My brothers and sisters, what good does it do if someone claims to have faith but doesn't do any good things? Can this kind of faith save him?
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What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
15 Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food
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Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 and one of you tells that person, "God be with you! Stay warm, and make sure you eat enough." If you don't provide for that person's physical needs, what good does it do?
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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 is dead if it doesn't cause you to do any good things.
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In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 Another person might say, "You have faith, but I do good things." Show me your faith apart from the good things you do. I will show you my faith by the good things I do.
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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. That's fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear.
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You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless?
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You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
21 Didn't our ancestor Abraham receive God's approval as a result of what he did when he offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice on the altar?
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Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that Abraham's faith and what he did worked together. His faith was shown to be genuine by what he did.
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You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 The Scripture passage came true. It says, "Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded by God to be his approval of Abraham." So Abraham was called God's friend.
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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 receives God's approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes.
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You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 The same is true of the prostitute Rahab who welcomed the spies and sent them away on another road. She received God's approval because of what she did.
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In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
26 A body that doesn't breathe is dead. In the same way faith that does nothing is dead.
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As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.