⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(A) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(B)

¹⁸ For they mouth empty, boastful words^(A) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(B) from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^{(C) 20} If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(D) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(E) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^(F)

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister^[a](A) is still in the darkness.^{(B) 10} Anyone who loves their brother and sister^[b] lives in the light,^(C) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.^{(D) 11} But anyone who hates a brother or sister^(E) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.^(F) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.^(G)

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

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?^(A) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(B) 16} 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?^{(C) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(D)

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,^(E) and I will show you my faith^(F) by my deeds.^{(G) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(H) Good! Even the demons believe that^(I)—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[a]?^{(J) 21} Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(K) 22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together,^(L) and his faith was made complete by what he did.^{(M) 23} And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[b](N) and he was called God’s friend.^{(O) 24} You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ 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?^{(P) 26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.^(Q)

¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(A) offered himself^(B) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(C) from acts that lead to death,^[a](D) so that we may serve the living God!^(E)

¹⁴ who gave himself for us^(A) to redeem us from all wickedness^(B) and to purify^(C) for himself a people that are his very own,^(D) eager to do what is good.^(E)

²⁶ to make her holy,^(A) cleansing^[a] her by the washing^(B) with water through the word,

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin^(A) but alive to God in Christ Jesus.