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2 My brothers and sisters, you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. So treat everyone the same.
2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes. And suppose a poor man in worn-out clothes also comes in. 3Would you show special attention to the one who is wearing fine clothes? Would you say, “Here’s a good seat for you”? Would you say to the poor person, “You stand there”? Or “Sit on the floor by my feet”? 4If you would, aren’t you treating some people better than others? Aren’t you like judges who have evil thoughts?
5My dear brothers and sisters, listen to me. Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor in the world’s eyes to be rich in faith? Hasn’t he chosen them to receive the kingdom? Hasn’t he promised it to those who love him?
6But you have put poor people down. Aren’t rich people taking advantage of you? Aren’t they dragging you into court? 7Aren’t they speaking evil things against the worthy name of Jesus? Remember, you belong to him.
8The royal law is found in Scripture. It says, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) If you really keep that law, you are doing what is right. 9But you sin if you don’t treat everyone the same. The law judges you because you have broken it.
10Suppose you keep the whole law but trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it. 11God said, “Do not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) He also said, “Do not commit murder.” (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) Suppose you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder. Then you have broken the Law.
12Speak and act like people who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. 13Those who have not shown mercy will not receive mercy when they are judged. To show mercy is better than to judge.
Show Your Faith by What You Do
14My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people claim they have faith but don’t act like it? Can that kind of faith save them?
15Suppose a brother or sister has no clothes or food. 16Suppose one of you says to them, “Go. I hope everything turns out fine for you. Keep warm. Eat well.” And you do nothing about what they really need. Then what good have you done?
17It is the same with faith. If it doesn’t cause us to do something, it’s dead.
18But someone will say, “You have faith. I do good works.”
Show me your faith that doesn’t do good works. And I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that. And they tremble!
20You foolish man! Do you want proof that faith without good works is useless? 21Our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar. Wasn’t he considered to be right with God because of what he did? 22So you see that what he believed and what he did were working together. What he did made his faith complete.
23That is what Scripture means where it says, “Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham because he believed. So his faith made him right with God.” (Genesis 15:6) And that’s not all. God called Abraham his friend. 24So you see that a person is made right with God by what he does. It doesn’t happen only because of what he believes.
25Didn’t God make even Rahab the prostitute right with him? That’s because of what she did. She gave the spies a place to stay. Then she sent them off in a different direction.
26The body without the spirit is dead. In the same way, faith without good works is dead.
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About New International Reader’s Version (1998)The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) was developed to help early readers understand the Bible. Begun in 1992, the NIrV is a simplification of the New International Version (NIV). The NIrV uses shorter words and sentences so that those with a typical fourth grade reading level can comprehend what they are reading. The chapters have been separated into shorter sections and most have titles that clearly indicate what the section is all about. The NIrV will be a valuable translation to those for whom English is a second language. The NIrV still relies on the best and oldest copies of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts for its translation, guaranteeing that those who read it are getting the actual Word of God. |
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Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved. The NIrV text may be quoted for non-commercial usage in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without the express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. Notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page of the work as follows: Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. When quotations from the NIrV text are used in non-saleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the initials (NIrV) must appear at the end of each quotation. Any commentary or other Biblical reference work produced for commercial sale that uses the New International Reader’s Version must obtain written permission for use of the NIrV text. Permission requests for commercial use within the U.S. and Canada that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530. Permission requests for commercial use within the U.K., EEC, and EFTA countries that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, Hodder Headline Plc., 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH, England. Permission requests for non-commercial usage that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, International Bible Society, 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921. |
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