as we see below in James chapter 2 is not enough and is not the right kind of belief.
What [is] the benefit, my brothers, if someone says [that he] has faith but does not have works? That faith [is] not able to save him. James 2:14
In James 2:14, we read of one who
say/claims (key word) he has faith but has
no works. This is not genuine faith, but a
bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith. *James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to
show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!
Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
An
empty profession of faith that merely
claims to be genuine but demonstrates by the lack of works that it's dead, is not genuine faith but a
bare profession of faith. The key word in James 2:18 is
show. I will
show you my faith by my works.
Show, not establish. Big difference! We are made alive in Christ by grace through faith (living faith), not by works (Ephesians 2:5-8) then created in Christ Jesus UNTO/FOR good works (Ephesians 2:10). Living faith produces works. Dead faith produces no works. Faith is the root and good works are the fruit of salvation. No fruit at all would demonstrate that there is no root.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder! But do you want to know, O foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? James 2:17-20
In James 2:19, nobody is questioning the fact that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God," but where in this passage does it say that demons believe/trust in Jesus Christ for salvation? The faith of demons is only "mental assent" belief. Their
trust and reliance is in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works. The word "believe" can describe "mere mental assent" belief, as in James 2:19 or also include "trust and reliance" in Christ for salvation, as in Acts 16:31. The demons
do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are not saved.
Saving belief/faith is more than just an "intellectual acknowledgment" that "there is one God" or mental assent belief in the existence and historical facts about Christ.
Saving belief/faith trusts exclusively in Jesus Christ for salvation. Faith apart from works is useless because the
lack of works demonstrates that it's a
dead faith and not a living faith.
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26
The comparison of the human spirit and faith converges around their modes of operation. The spirit (Greek pneuma) may also be translated "breath." As a breathless body emits no indication of life, so fruitless faith exhibits no indication of life. The source of the life in faith is not the works; rather, the life in faith is the source of the works. A dead faith does not produce works in order to become a living faith, but BECAUSE it's a living faith, just as a dead tree does not produce fruit in order to become a living tree, but BECAUSE it's a living tree.
The harmony of Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:2-3 and James 2:24 is seen in the differing ways that Paul and James use the term "justified." Paul, when he uses the term, refers to the
legal (judicial) act of God by which He accounts the sinner as righteous (Romans 3:24; 5:1). James, however is using the term to
describe those who would show the genuineness of their faith by the works that they do. James is discussing the proof of faith
(says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works), not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3). Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.
Man is saved through faith and not works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is vindicated, substantiated, evidenced by works (James 2:14-24). The word "alone" in regards to salvation through faith "in Christ alone" conveys the message that
Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not on the merits of our works. It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-26). *Perfect Harmony.* By not properly harmonizing scripture with scripture, you have once again came to the improper conclusion that man is saved by works.
