No. Faith is the fact you believe something happened and because of your faith. You are saved any God changes your life. Which is works. Hence I will prove my faith by my worjs
mental assent means you believe it but you do not trust it. So you have a claimed faith. But since your faith is dead you will never show any fruit is salvation (works) because you were never saved hence. Can that faith save you. The answer is no. Even demons believe (mental assent) yet tremble. (They know it’s true but never acted on it in faith. They rebelled
You may be causing some confusion.
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
A straight forward gospel, so far.
Does James say that works save?
James 2:18-23
But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works,
faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “
And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
Salvation by grace through faith, a fact!
James is encouraging works in his audience but not for salvation.
The Christian life is faith and works, but salvation is by grace and through Christ alone.