²⁸ For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^(A)

³² Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works.^[a] They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^(A)

¹⁶ and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law^(A) but by faith in Jesus Christ,^[a] even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ^[b] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will^[c] be justified.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith^(A) working through love.^(B)

¹¹ In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling,^(A) and by his power fulfill your every desire to do good^[a] and your work produced by faith,^(B)

Warning against Falling Away

6 Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,^(A)

Faith and Works

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him?

¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?^{(A) 17} In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”^[a] Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.^{(B) 19} You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.^(C)

²⁰ Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? ²² You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete,^{(D) 23} and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,^[b](E) and he was called God’s friend.^{(F) 24} You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route?^{(G) 26} For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

¹⁹ I know your works—your love, faithfulness,^[a] service, and endurance.^(A) I know that your last works are greater than the first.