"Righteousness by faith alone" was the back bone of the protestant movement 500 years ago. Marten Luther struggled with this because he believe in faith alone but James 2 states that faith without works is dead. He though the book of James away or just ignored it for many years because he couldn't make sense of it, and thought it contradicted "faith alone".
I'm not sure what his final conclusion was but i can say that it doesn't contradict the rest of the Bible.
If you do not have works you do not have faith.
It is faith alone that save.
works are a result of faith.
If we are connected to the vine we will bear fruit.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 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.
No works = No faith
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Christians who stand by; "salvation is by faith alone;" are saying that;
faith plus works,
'does not gain favor from God for their salvation. The obvious conflict in the bible concerning, Justification by faith plus works; or by faith alone, is between James and Paul. Paul say's that by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified;
"knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law,
because by the works of the law no one will be justified." Galatians2:16
"If you do not have works you do not have faith." - This is a false statement; "So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans10:17
"It is faith alone that save." This is a true biblical statement.
"works are a result of faith." The cart is before the house; faith will produce works, but works cannot save you.
"If we are connected to the vine we will bear fruit." - Yes this is a true statement; apart from Jesus we are nothing.
My understanding is that James ch.2, is talking to Jewish believers about "faith that is real" with works being the evidence of a real faith, whereas Paul say's; that we are Justified by faith apart from works;
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is;
faith expressing itself through love." Galatians5:6
God bless!
