What Does the Bible Say About Faith and Works?
Here are 12 Bible verses about Faith and Works, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. …
BSBWhat good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. …
- #2Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
BSBFor it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
- #3Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
BSBFor in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
- #4Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
BSBFor we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
- #5James 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
BSBSo too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
- #6Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
BSBAnd without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
- #7James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
BSBAs you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
- #8Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
BSBknow that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
- #9Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
BSBNow faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
- #10James 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
BSBBut someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
- #11Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
BSBIn the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- #12James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
BSBAs the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).