Faith and Belief (James 2:14–26)
1 AKJV O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? BSB BSB: O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
2 AKJV This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? BSB BSB: I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
3 AKJV Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? BSB BSB: Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
4 AKJV Have you suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. BSB BSB: Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
5 AKJV He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? BSB BSB: Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
6 AKJV Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. BSB BSB: So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7 AKJV Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. BSB BSB: Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
8 AKJV And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed. BSB BSB: The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
9 AKJV So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. BSB BSB: So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Christ Has Redeemed Us 10 AKJV For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. BSB BSB: All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
11 AKJV But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. BSB BSB: Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
12 AKJV And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. BSB BSB: The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
14 AKJV That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. BSB BSB: He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Purpose of the Law (Romans 7:1–6)
15 AKJV Brothers, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man cancels, or adds thereto. BSB BSB: Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
16 AKJV Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ. BSB BSB: The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
17 AKJV And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot cancel, that it should make the promise of none effect. BSB BSB: What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18 AKJV For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. BSB BSB: For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
19 AKJV Why then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. BSB BSB: Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
20 AKJV Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. BSB BSB: A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.
21 AKJV Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness should have been by the law. BSB BSB: Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
22 AKJV But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. BSB BSB: But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
23 AKJV But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed. BSB BSB: Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
24 AKJV Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. BSB BSB: So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 AKJV But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. BSB BSB: Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
Sons through Faith in Christ 26 AKJV For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. BSB BSB: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 AKJV For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. BSB BSB: For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
29 AKJV And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. BSB BSB: And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.