⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he ^(A)is blind, having forgotten that he was ^(B)cleansed from his former sins.

¹⁸ For, ^(A)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely ^(B)escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them ^(C)freedom, ^(D)but they themselves are slaves^[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, ^(E)after they have escaped the defilements of the world ^(F)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, ^(G)the last state has become worse for them than the first.

⁹ Whoever says he is in the light and ^(A)hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him^[a] there is no ^(B)cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and ^(C)walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

⁷ But ^(A)if we walk in the light, ^(B)as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and ^(C)the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith ^(A)but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ^15 (B)If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ^16 (C)and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[a] is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith ^(D)apart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^(E)by my works. ^19 (F)You believe that God is one; you do well. Even ^(G)the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ^21 (H)Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that ^(I)faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed ^(J)by his works; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ^(K)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a ^(L)friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And in the same way was not also ^(M)Rahab the prostitute justified by works ^(N)when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

¹⁴ how much more will ^(A)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(B)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(C)purify our^[a] conscience ^(D)from dead works ^(E)to serve the living God.

^14 (A)who gave himself for us to ^(B)redeem us from all lawlessness and ^(C)to purify for himself ^(D)a people for his own possession who are ^(E)zealous for good works.

²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by ^(A)the washing of water ^(B)with the word,

¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves ^(A)dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.