I disagree with that completely.
Of course you disagree because you teach salvation
by works in
contradiction to scripture. (Romans 4:2-6; Ephesians 2:8,9)
I’ll defer to James’ pretense in James 2:14
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?”
James’ question is plain. Can faith save someone. Then he proceeds to answer this question.
In James 2:14, we read of one who
says/claims (key word) they have faith, but they have
no works (to evidence their claim). That is not genuine faith, but a
bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith/dead faith. So James
does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to
show the reality of the faith
professed by the individual (James 2:18) and
demonstrate that the faith
claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is
genuine. Simple!
James goes on to talk about Abraham:
21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
24As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and
not by faith alone.
Faith "alone" here refers to an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" - barren of works, as we see in James 2:14. SAYS/CLAIMS to have faith - key word. *Not to be confuse with faith that trusts in Christ "alone" for salvation. (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9)
You need to remember that James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3) Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.
This relates to Romans 4 where Abraham was justified by faith. Those who are of the faith of Abraham are saved:
Romans 4
16Therefore, the promise comes
by faith, so that it
may rest on grace and
may be
guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to
those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Romans 4:2 - For
if Abraham was
justified (accounted as righteous)
by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham
believed God, and
it (faith, not works) was
accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 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. That is crystal clear.
The faith of Abraham was faith and works.
The faith of Abraham was faith. Works followed as the demonstrative evidence of his faith, yet faith is still faith and works are still works. Good works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of faith that is alive and not dead, yet works are not the essence of faith and also not the basis or means by which we obtain salvation.
Do you have the faith of Abraham?
Yes I do as do all genuine believers.
Are you beginning to see why Jesus said that only those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven?
Salvation by works is
not the will of the Father. (Matthew 7:22-23) John 6:40 - For
my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and
believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. Are you ready to
believe?