You keep ignoring half of what I say and picking and Choosing
i showed in Romans where if Paul was saved by works he would have something to boast about he said the same in Ephesians (not of works lest anyone should boast). Abraham was before the law, You can not use the law in context because there was no law in abrahams day, paul is talking to people like you, who are adding works of any type as a means of gaining or earning salvation. Hence the reason you can BOAST of saving yourself by your deeds
in contrast, James is speaking to the people of the other side of the pendulum, people who claim to have faith, but have no works, they are hearers of the word but Not doers, so he calls them out for it,
again, using your line items
paul spoke to people who believed this was true
faith - works - assured salvaion. Works based gospel where one can boast of saving himself or legalisms
james spoke to people who believed like this
mere belief (dead faith) - thought they were saved - no work proved their faith was dead. Ie licentiousness
which is why paul and James appeared to be contradicting each other when they were not.
james stated a fact. I proved abraham was declaired righteous in Gen 15. Decades before Isaac was even born. But the fact abraham did what he did, proved over and over his faith was real not dead. And by that his salvation was justified (declaired true)
not by works of righteousness (any good deed or work) which we have done, but BY HIS MERCY HE SAVED US.
you want to earn salvation by being a pharisee type, feel free.. but me, I became like the tax collector and cried out of Gods mercy, because that is the only thing that will save me, my works are as filthy rags, ain’t no way on judgment day I am giving god my works as payment for sin, he will tell me to depart for he never knew me.
Im not ignoring anything I am trying to open hour eyes to the context.
If I speak about the works of the law all through my letter to you and in on place I just say works
Should you not understand that I mean works of the law?
James 2:24
As you can see, a man is justified by his works and not by faith alone.
Clearly and plainly a man is justified by his works.
To reject this is to reject the very word of God.
Now Paul appears to be saying the exact opposite.
So you must ask yourself are Paul and James speaking of different
kinds of works?
One kind that justifies and one kind that does not justify?
Are you to take one verse above another, or use one to negate the other?
No.
You are to understand the context and if needed move yourself to a new perspective to find the unity in the word of God that you lack.
Paul is constantly speaking about the works of the law.
James is speaking about the works of faith.
One of these works is not like the other.
One of these works just does not belong.
Sing it with me.
One of these works is not like the other
One of these works just does not belong.
Can you remember your sesame street days?
Why this is such an issue, Because people love the lie, because their deeds are evil.
If one is justified by the works faith, the works of believing then what become of all those who faith is worthless and dead?
They will hear depart from my you who practice lawlessness.
But what God is going to deny ever knowing those who don't keep the law?
How is that when the works of the law made no one righteous?
Well that is just it, the works of Faith do make one righteous and lawful and is the only way to believe and know God.
The one who practices sin has neither seen or known God.
What the law could not do (make you lawful because the outcome of your works depended on you)
God did (because the outcome of your works in faith depend on God in Christ)
As Paul says those who do not have the written law keep the law because they have the law written on their hearts, by God himself.