MSB YAC Chapter 2

A Warning against Favoritism

My brothers, as you hold out [your] faith in our vvv glorious Lord Jesus Christ, {do} not [show] favoritism.

vvv Suppose a man comes into your meeting[fn] [wearing] a gold ring [and] fine clothes, and a poor [man] in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 [If] you lavish attention on the [man] in fine clothes and say, Here [is] a seat of honor,” [but] say to the poor [man],“You must stand” or“Sit vvv here under [my] footstool,”[fn] 4 vvv have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges [with] evil thoughts?

Listen, my beloved brothers: {Has} not God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. [Is it] not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 {Are} they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?[fn]

If vvv you really fulfill [the] royal law stated in Scripture,“Love your neighbor as yourself,”[fn] you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin [and] are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one [point] is guilty of [breaking] all of it. 11 For He who said, vvv“Do not commit adultery,”[fn] also said,“vvv Do not murder.”[fn] If vvv you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become vvv a lawbreaker.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by [the] law that gives freedom. 13 For judgment without mercy [ will be shown to ] anyone who vvv has not been merciful Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works

(Galatians 3:1–9)

What good [is it], my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? vvv Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 [If] one of you tells him,“Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but {does} not provide for [his] physical needs, what good [ is that ]? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action,[fn] is dead.

But someone will say,“You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith [apart] from your deeds,[fn] and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that God is one.[fn] Good for you! Even the demons believe [that] — and shudder.

O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is dead?[fn] 21 {Was} not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that [his] faith was working with his actions, and [his] faith was perfected by what he did. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[fn] and he was called a friend of God.[fn] 24 As you can see, then a man is justified by [his] deeds and not by faith alone.

vvv In the same way, {was} not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies[fn] and sent [them] off on another route? 26 For as[fn] the body without [the] spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.