I would say both to your questions....and as I have pointed out many times.....the bible accurately lays the following bare.
a. Paul --> A man is justified before God by faith
b. James -->the above faith seen by men based upon works
c. James is addressing a MERE belief in God as opposed to saving faith into Jesus. The Jews to this very day have the same problem.....they believe in God (AS THE DEMONS DO) but have no saving faith into Christ (or even that option)
d. Also.....Believers have works of every flavor...some good, some bad (1st Corinthians 3) as well as biblical examples -->David, Samson, Peter, Abraham, Moses
However.....We cannot alleviate the absolute truth that Jesus was addressing the false teachers of his day and what they were teaching when he referenced a tree being known by what it bears...
And....as far as believers...A tree takes growth and maturity before it produces fruit.....for example....an apple tree takes 2 to 3 years to produce...maybe 1 apple, maybe 20 or more....it can also have good edible apples and a few rotten or apples with worms.....there is NO SET time frame or amount of fruit that can be predicted....and without a doubt...it is an apple tree from the moment it sprouts from seed!
a. Paul --> A man is justified before God by faith
b. James -->the above faith seen by men based upon works
c. James is addressing a MERE belief in God as opposed to saving faith into Jesus. The Jews to this very day have the same problem.....they believe in God (AS THE DEMONS DO) but have no saving faith into Christ (or even that option)
d. Also.....Believers have works of every flavor...some good, some bad (1st Corinthians 3) as well as biblical examples -->David, Samson, Peter, Abraham, Moses
However.....We cannot alleviate the absolute truth that Jesus was addressing the false teachers of his day and what they were teaching when he referenced a tree being known by what it bears...
And....as far as believers...A tree takes growth and maturity before it produces fruit.....for example....an apple tree takes 2 to 3 years to produce...maybe 1 apple, maybe 20 or more....it can also have good edible apples and a few rotten or apples with worms.....there is NO SET time frame or amount of fruit that can be predicted....and without a doubt...it is an apple tree from the moment it sprouts from seed!
Again bear with me....,are you saying a born again doesn’t bear fruit as soon as they are born again?
For me a born again bears fruit after salvation.....