Poll on faith without works

It is easy to confess with your mouth, easy say you believe. But when your asked to surrender self and bear the cross, and be unselfish, that require God living in us which requires true faith.
Unselfish love are fruits of true faith.

James is answering the question, “Can faith save him?” Paul says yes, but James goes on to say that “By works a man is justified and not by faith only.” James is not a Christian epistle, rather, a general letter written to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, his Jewish brethren.

I believe belief is believing.

Start of James chapter 2:

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

The faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.. ... these are christians! It is the twelve scattered yes...also scattered believers in Christ.

James and Paul do not contradict. God moved through both of them to pen His words.

Added to this-- Old Testament saints-- weren't saved by works, weren't saved by the OT laws.. they were saved by looking forward to Jesus coming.... with shadows and types of who Jesus is all through the OT. Different system of service in the OT.. not a different way of salvation through Jesus.

(John 5:39) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Scriptures= Old Testament at the time Jesus was talking

I believe these are the scattered twelve tribes in the tribulation that need to keep the commandments and have the faith of Jesus Christ. Nowhere in scripture is the term "twelve tribes" ever used as a reference to the body of Christ. It is always a reference to the nation of Israel as a whole. James is telling them not to have the faith of Jesus with respect of persons.

Revelation 142:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, we know at least some of the audience of this epistle are not saved. They have not received the word and their souls are not saved.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Btw, not one OT saint look forward to the cross of Jesus. It was a mystery until after it occurred. That has been debunked over and over on these forums. Were they looking forward to a Messiah? Yes, but the cross was hidden from their minds. We can look back and see the types and shadows after, but they had no understanding.

Have you considered that James Is talking about men seeing faith In action while paul Is talking about faith that GOD sees?

Romans 4:1-2
King James Version

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.

Okay.. me thinks I'll take another look at James. Ill see what it is actually saying. Blessings

Yeah.. different kinds of faith again. Justification for eternal salvation.. and the after salvation.. having an act of service 'justified ' in the eyes of God

If men look at the outward appearance how does a man show you his faith.
James 2:16-18
King James Version

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

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.

If a person has not first been justified by GOD for eternal salvation Is their service justified for salvation? Or Is their service of good works a result of being a new creation that GOD has equipped to do good works?

Their service isn't part of how they received eternal life. Their service is a response to the gift given to them out of love to give back to the freedom giver. So it is a result of being a new creation that God has equipped to do good works.. but these good works are not guaranteed to happen.

Compare James with the book of John and Romans as you are doing.

That’s how most commentaries deal with it. But the question James is answering is, “Can faith save him?” Can faith alone justify the believer? Paul says absolutely! James says that by works a man is justified and not by faith only. James uses the example of Abraham. Only God saw Abraham’s faith.

Genesis 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Works do not gain favour or earn salvation.
If you love God because He has saved you, you will have works.
Works are a result of your love and appreciation towards God.
If you love God your actions will show it and if you love your neighbour your actions, words and deeds will show it.
By grace we are saved through faith.

Mat 7:16-27
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

People need to just stop trying to separate works from faith. Their is no saving faith without works. Either your faith works and is alive, or it doesn't work, and your faith is dead faith that does not save.

Some believe that the thief on the cross did works by believing In CHRIST.

He did; so good for them. Not that the thief on the cross has anything to do with the NT church.

Romans 4:1-2
King James Version

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.