Not By Works

Yes, according to this definition:

Definition of justify

transitive verb
1a: to prove or show to be just, right

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justify


(Not according to the definition Paul was using in Romans).

Here’s the thing. The believer in the gospel of Christ is justified at the moment of salvation. No matter what happens from that point forward. Justification is a one time event.

So James, to you, was actually stating that works justify us before God?

Whatever dude

james said if a person has one work their Claimed faith is real

if they have no (zero) work their faith is dead and unable to saved

teue faith produces works, if one has no works their faith was dead.

Interesting isn't, how about ten of us are right on point and in agreement on many doctrines.

Really? Good works show us to be righteous? No amount of works shows our righteousness. Many lost people do great works. Works prove nothing.

You are talking about the definition of 'justified' that Paul used.

Definition of justify

transitive verb
...
2a: to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation
God justifies with his forgiveness and grace the man who comes to him— Will Herberg

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/justify

They have the righteousness of CHRIST..
which is by faith

The letter of james was specifically addressing a form of partial treatment lacking in love then went on to explain how worthless and dead (without function) this sort of "faith"....

Then goes on to explain how this can effect our witness (even though seen as RIGHTEOUS through faith alone) towards the end of 2 and in 3 and our ability to function as the body of Christ.

All of us have a use in the body and what we do and say ought to be directed by Him in love....


people often take 3 or 4 cherry picked words to twist the meaning of whats being said to say "if you dont work you have no saving faith, and works help justify you as righteous come judgment"


though that is not whats being said in context

Who is the audience James is addressing?

Can you really determine the salvation of another by observing their good works?

Here’s the difference. James is speaking of justification through a persons own faith. James writes:

18 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.

Paul says the believer is justified by the faith of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified

...

Friend, if you don't have a changed/ changing life you need to be born again. You're not ready for the return of Christ.
Even Luther said that the faith that justifies all by itself apart from works won't be alone but will result in works.

That’s the only justification in Scripture. People create other definitions because they cannot reconcile Paul with James.

Jews of course. That letter was the first NT book ever written.

Then Paul and James contradict each other.

I’m a hospice chaplain. I’ve dedicated my life to serving God by serving His people in their most delicate hours of life. So don’t preach to me about needing a changed life. I am carrying my cross daily, to God’s infinite glory.

Nope, they are addressing different audiences. Simple. Paul addresses the body of Christ. James addresses the Jews.

Yes, but it’s been placed after Paul’s writings to the Church. Yes? The tribulation and the second coming was at hand in early Acts when James wrote this letter to the Jews. It is not a Christian epistle. Do you agree?

Then Paul and James contradict each other.

No amount of works shows our righteousness. Many lost people do great works. Works prove nothing.

Works never justify us before God or man. Ever.