Rom 3:24--grace [is God's action that]>>>justifies
James 2:24--works [after one is saved only!] >>>>>>>>justify
Rom 5:1--faith [is man's only action at point of salvation that] >>justifies
Grace is what
God exercises. Many things were done by God for man's salvation/justification. We are now considering
man's responsibility, not God's. Do not put grace in it -- that is God's part, not man's.
In James 2, the work which justified Abraham was offering up Isaac. That work declared that Abe was righteous. But that work was done
long after Abraham had been justified before the Lord
by faith alone and long after God made the promises to Abe in Gen 12.
At the point of salvation, the sinner can only be declared righteous (justified) by faith alone. James says also that Abe was justified by faith.
But once a man is saved (only by faith), then
his works that follow declare he is righteous;
after salvation, works do
justify a man, but they
do not save the man; they do declare that he is righteous.
Rom. 4:
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. 3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6 Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works, 7 saying,
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.
. . .
13 For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect: 15 for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. 16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. 18 Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him; 24 but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
Rom. 5:1
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Gal. 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Gal. 3:9
So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith; 12 and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal. 3:22
But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal. 3:23
But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
James 2:22
Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. 24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. 25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
That salvation is by faith and nothing else is reiterated over & over in scripture. I posted you a bunch of scripture. Since this system will not accept so long a single post, I add more to the end of this post.
Gal 3:22ff
But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by
faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that
believe. But before
faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the
faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law is become our tutor
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by
faith. But now that
faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. For ye are all sons of God, through
faith, in Christ Jesus.
Gal 5:5-6
For we through the Spirit by
faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but
faith working through love.
Philip 3:8-9
Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own,
even that which is of the law, but that which is through
faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by
faith:
Col 2:6
As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk in him,
7 rooted and builded up in him, and established in your
faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
2 Tim 3:15b
the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Titus 1:4
to Titus, my true child after a common
faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Heb 3:19ff
And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.
2 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by
faith with them that heard. For we who have
believed do enter into that rest;
Heb 10:39
But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have
faith unto the saving of the soul.
Heb 11:7
By
faith Noah, being warned
of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to
faith.
1 Pet 1:3ff
Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who by the power of God are guarded through
faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,
7 that the proof of your
faith,
being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:
8 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 receiving the end of your
faith,
even the salvation of
your souls.
1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world,
even our
faith.
5 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believes that Jesus is the Son of God?