⁶ For in Christ Jesus^(A) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(B) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(C)

³ We remember before our God and Father^(A) your work produced by faith,^(B) your labor prompted by love,^(C) and your endurance inspired by hope^(D) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^(A) what counts is the new creation.^(B)

¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life,^(A) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.^{(B) 15} Anyone who hates a brother or sister^(C) is a murderer,^(D) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.^(E)

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.^(F) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.^{(G) 17} If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,^(H) how can the love of God be in that person?^{(I) 18} Dear children,^(J) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.^(K)

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(A) Keeping God’s commands is what counts.

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)

¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(A) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.^{(B) 20} Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister^(C) is a liar.^(D) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,^(E) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^{(F) 21} And he has given us this command:^(G) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.^(H)

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^(A)

The Sheep and the Goats

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes^(A) in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.^{(B) 32} All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate^(C) the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.^{(D) 33} He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom^(E) prepared for you since the creation of the world.^{(F) 35} For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,^{(G) 36} I needed clothes and you clothed me,^(H) I was sick and you looked after me,^(I) I was in prison and you came to visit me.’^(J)

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’^(K)