Justified/Saved by Faith & Faith Alone

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)

I am confused as to why you and @HeIsHere can not answer the basic question of is a person who BELIEVES, yet DOES NOT HAVE FAITH saved?

Can I believe sopmething is true. Yet not trust that that thing is true? is it possible?

You still are dodging my question.

If I believe, But do not HAVE FAITH. am I saved?

the word faith in the greek means to trust, to be assured of. to be confident in.

Have you ever believed in something, but not been confident in it? I know I have..

Paul did. The people who tried to insert works in the gospel. and say it must be faith plus..

Apparently those 'alleged' wonderful good works were not so wonderful and good after all. Jesus said that he never knew these many people which means they were never saved. (Matthew 7:23) These many people failed to do the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21) in obtaining salvation (John 6:40) and instead sought salvation by works. (Matthew 7:22)

A saved person can fall away and reject their previous salvation. A saved person is capable of sin; so they're not incapable rejecting the Lord completely and walking away.

There are genuine Christians and there are "nominal/pseudo" Christians. There are genuine believers and there are make believers. Hence, the permanent falling away.

Can genuine Christians sin? That's the issue. If a genuine Christian can sin against God it proves they still have free will; they still have weaknesses of the flesh. What's to stop a genuine Christian from rejecting the Lord and their salvation?

then why does John say they were never of us, if they were truly of us, they never would have left?

just because a genuine christian can sin does not mean they will repent again of the knowledge of condemnation because of their sin, and that God is a god of love and mercy and died for them.

which would have to happen for them to turn once again and reject christ.

Christians can still sin (1 John 1:8-10) yet the Lord does not forsake His saints/they are preserved forever. (Psalm 37:28)

do you not know? have you not heard?

They will be My people, and I will be their God.I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.
I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from Me. (Jer 32:38-40)

it is God Himself Who knows us, and has saved us, Who prevents us from turning away from Him.
He knows we're prone to wander... yet even this is in His capable hands.

The word 'faith' and the word 'belief' are the same Greek word 'pistis'.

You can translate every occurrence of 'pistis' in the New Testament as 'believe', if you wish.

I believe that the word 'faith' arises from a translation of the Koine Greek into Latin. When the English translation of the Latin occurs, the Greek word 'pistis' can become 'faith'.

Regardless of the process of the translation. God has enacted salvation only on the basis of that belief in Jesus.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:18
The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.

Your confusing the Christian walk with the actual mechanism of salvation.

Salvation is a gift!

Salvation cannot be acquired through good works, or anything else.

Pistis means trust or belief.

To believe in Jesus is identical to trusting in Jesus.

I feel like I am beating a dead horse

your wrong. I can have a belief is something yet not trust that something. there are many examples. far to many to show.

The fact is, if I just believe, yet do not have faith. I am not saved.

example of this is I believe in jesus and the cross. But I do not trust the gospel so I add works.. The Jews who were trying to add the law to grace believed in Jesus.l but they did not trust him. there faith is in themselves.

another example of this is one who believes in jesus. but do not trust him, they do not believe they are sinners. they do not believe God will condemn them, and they think if they just say a prayer. they are saved and can liver however they want because they believe. These are the people James were confronting in james 2.

Don't underestimate God's Preservation.

I can not comprehend why people think people would willingly repent of their faith in christ. After having experienced firsthand his true love with surpasses all understanding.

It's unfathomable to me.

All Paul is saying is, Walking in the Flesh is walking without faith. You want to walk in the flesh and put your salvation in the hands of your own doing, good luck with that. You walk in faith, your Salvation is His doing. I'd rather put my salvation in Him & not my flesh.

Also, Paul said the branch "COULD" be broken off, he didn't say it "WILL" be broken off. Basically, don't be arrogant or boastful about your situation of being Saved by Faith alone... I mean, why would he ditch the Jews who were a works based salvation group and illuminate the gentiles with the real truth, and make that truth one of works again? it makes no sense.

Believers don't have to talk about Good Works, they are a natural occurrence after being Saved. Really, what is a good work? Giving a cold guy your coat? Giving a hungry guy food? in this modern world it could be a number of things. The problem is with work based Salvation guys like you, you want to tally up your good works or remember them or boast about them... just react as things are presented to you in everyday life... God will give you opportunities to do good works.

There is no measuring stick, there is no formula for how many you have to do. Look at the old granny who dropped one pebble in the collection plate.. Jesus said she gave more of herself than anyone else.

Stop overthinking it and just Get Saved!

PS: I love you!