mercy. Paul was concerned with justification through Christ alone and not by ritual works of the law, such as circumcision, apart from faith in Christ. The question of whether inactive faith can save requires a negative answer. But this answer does not mean that active faith is that which saves. Only God’s mercy triumphs over judgment (v. 13). James already had stated in the previous chapter that only the implanted Word is able to save (1:21). The Word must be accepted, however, by those who are