⁹ For he who lacks these things is ^(A)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Deceptions of False Teachers

¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who ^[a]have actually escaped from those who live in error. ¹⁹ While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of ^[b]corruption; ^(A)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into ^[c]bondage. ²⁰ For if, after they ^(B)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are ^(C)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

^9 (A)He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. ^10 (B)He who loves his brother abides in the light, and ^(C)there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he who ^(D)hates his brother is in darkness and ^(E)walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

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

Faith Without Works Is Dead^(A)

^14 (B)What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ^15 (C)If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and ^(D)one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” ^(E)Show me your faith without ^[a]your works, ^(F)and I will show you my faith by ^[b]my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is ^[c]dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works ^(G)when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see ^(H)that faith was working together with his works, and by ^(I)works faith was made ^[d]perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ^(J)“Abraham believed God, and it was ^[e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called ^(K)the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, ^(L)was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without ^[a]spot to God, ^(A)cleanse your conscience from ^(B)dead works ^(C)to serve the living God?

^14 (A)who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed ^(B)and purify for Himself ^(C)His own special people, zealous for good works.

²⁶ that He might ^[a]sanctify and cleanse her ^(A)with the washing of water ^(B)by the word,

¹¹ Likewise you also, ^[a]reckon yourselves to be ^(A)dead indeed to sin, but ^(B)alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.