Rather than reply to one I'll try to avoid offending anyone in particular. There's a gap in this discussion that maybe I missed trying to catch up. First let the apostle James' take on works be posted.
James 2:14-24 (KJV)
[SUP]14 [/SUP] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
[SUP]15 [/SUP] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
[SUP]16 [/SUP] 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?
[SUP]17 [/SUP] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[SUP]18 [/SUP] 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.
[SUP]19 [/SUP] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[SUP]20 [/SUP] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
[SUP]21 [/SUP] Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
[SUP]22 [/SUP] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
[SUP]23 [/SUP] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
[SUP]24 [/SUP] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
It's correct that salvation is had by the faith of God in the righteousness of his dear Son Jesus. Only His righteousness matters. But salvation doesn't stop at the initial gift of faith to believe on Jesus instead of relying upon any religious or moral code apart from Jesus. There are many "ways" among people of the world, but only His way will save us. His Way centers around works among those who are "In Him" by faith. Jesus didn't go about preaching faith only. Faith is the basis of His gospel. Neither did any apostle focus mostly on faith.
I'll move on to more apostolic comment on what kind of faith pleases God enough to fit into the James scriptures. I looked for anything quoted from 2 Peter, didn't see some, so here goes: According to Peter.....
2 Peter 1:1-4 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
[SUP]2 [/SUP] Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
[SUP]3 [/SUP] According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
That lays out the basis of the gift of faith of Christ, with our knowledge of God following. So what then? Jesus found us believers, and we found Him. Well, the apostles followed, doing His thing, His works. What works?
2 Peter 1:5-11 (KJV)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
[SUP]6 [/SUP] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
[SUP]7 [/SUP] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
[SUP]8 [/SUP] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
[SUP]11 [/SUP] For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
There should be no doubt remaining that it is possible for anyone beginning to follow Christ who cleansed us from our sin record, that one can fall away back into sin. Like Judas.
We all take some comfort in reading about how some of them stumbled concerning faith and certainly works, like Peter did a few times. But in no way does the gospel of Christ give way for a believer to continue living as though Satan is still in charge of their life. It isn't easy, but it is that righteousness of Christ is put upon a true believer that empowers the faith to switch from a hell-bent life to one of good works. It's those works that demonstrate to God and people exactly which master we serve. One can only serve one or the other.
So it is that no works can take the place of the first step of a sure salvation, believing on our Savior for salvation. From that moment Jesus is looking for disciples still following.
Follow and do the kind of things He does, which was and is what the Father says and does.
Couple faith and works from now on so you can live confidently that God finds you in obedience to all of His instruction that the apostles learned, not just the easy parts that can't be demonstrated.
What we always need to incorporate is balance of doctrine.