Explain why James 2 says otherwise. It is part of the Bible therefore the word of God.
Start explaining why it is to be ignored!!!
James 2
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
What is it that we are to do to be considered righteous?
Do good works or have faith?
Romans 4:1-8
Chapter 4
Abraham Justified by Faith
1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
David Celebrates the Same Truth
5 But
to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”
Paul is saying that faith is counted as righteousness, he is not saying that our faith is our righteousness.
He is saying that our faith unites us to Jesus so that Gods righteousness in Jesus is reckoned/imputed to us.
So our own faith is not considered righteous only that of Jesus.
So if we place our faith in Jesus, repent of the sin of unbelief in him then what?
Firstly justified and declared righteous, not guilty and reconciled to God, through faith.
Romans 5:1-2
Chapter 5
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
So having also been sanctified (set apart) we now walk in this. Yes we get it wrong but get up again, sanctification.
Romans 8:29-30
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
As a result leading to
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
So there is no denying that in Jesus we are called for good works.
James is not saying they are considered righteous by what they they do.
He is saying if you have faith in Jesus and as a result declared righteous then works will follow.
If no works follow then do you not have genuine faith?
Works will follow faith, but they do not save us or declare us righteous.
They are evidence of us being declared righteous.
A true genuine saving faith.