Explanation
a(1) According to James, believers should be doers of the word and not hearers only.
(2) For if they are mere hearers, they are like a man who observes his face in a mirror; but as soon as he goes away, forgets what his face looks like.
(3) He who has heard the perfect law and perseveres in it by his actions, shall be blessed in his doing.
(4) For somebody to be truly religious he must bridle his tongue - or else his religion is vain/he is deceiving himself.
(5) Pure/undefiled religion involves visiting orphans/widows in their affliction.
(6) A pure religion also involves keeping away from the sin of the world.
(7) To buttress his teaching, James spoke about Abraham's justification, not merely for his faith, but for his matching his faith with requisite works.
(8) Abraham further justified his faith by sacrificing Isaac to God.
(9) It was for this accompanying action that the scripture was fulfilled which says that Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
(10) Consequently, he was called the friend of God having been justified by his works, and not by faith alone.
(11) Again, Rahab had faith in the God of Israel. She proved this by receiving God's/Joshua's messengers.
(12) She then deceived even her own people who came to capture/slay the messengers by sending them on the wrong way.
(13) He ended that as the body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without works.
(b) Two deeds of faith:
(i) Giving to charity.
(ii) Helping the less-privileged. OR
(iii) Fasting and praying.
(iv) Winning souls/evangelism.
(v) Praying for the sick.
(vi) Being an active member of church.
(vii) Believing in God.