Your argument is barren of any logic.
Your argument is based on faulty human logic. You need to properly harmonize scripture with scripture.
James writes, "You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not faith alone. (James 2:24 NIV) and this means what to you??
"Considered" righteous is not the same as "accounted" as righteous. *In James 2:21, notice closely that James
does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God accounting Abraham as righteous. The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6,
many years before his work of offering up Isaac on the altar recorded in Genesis 22.
The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to save him, but it
proved or manifested the genuineness of his faith. *This is the sense in which Abraham was justified by works, "shown to be righteous."
Compare Romans 4:2 - "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God" NOT JUSTIFIED BY WORKS with James 2:21, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?" Paul and James do not contradict each other. They are just describing genuine faith from two different perspectives.
The harmony of Romans 4:2-3 and James 2:21-24 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 righteous. James, however is using the term to
describe those who would prove the genuineness of their faith by the works that they do.
In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word for justified "dikaioo" #1344 is:
1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
God is said to have been
justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads,
"acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads,
"they declared God just.." This is the sense in which God was justified, "shown to be righteous" not accounted as righteous.
In Matthew 12:37, "For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and works) reveal the state of our hearts. Words and works will be evidences for, or against a man being in a state of grace and righteousness.
Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is
justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds."
This simple sentence is not worded to imply "proof" is needed but "actions" are needed.
Actions are the proof.
Says-claims to have faith but has
no works (to back up his claim). Where is the evidence?
The sentence states "by what they do".
They are considered righteous by what they do. By their actions they are considered righteous. They are not doing the actions to prove they are righteous but instead to be considered righteous.
We show our faith by our works (James 2:18). Again, "considered righteous" (James 2:21) is not the same as "accounted as righteous" (Romans 4:2-3). Abraham was accounted as righteous BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH in Genesis 15:6
many years before he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22 and was "considered" or "shown to be righteous." *Hermeneutics.
A soldier must do something heroic to be get a Medal of Honor. The medal is "proof" but it was the act of heroism that gave him the medal. The soldier is still heroic without the medal but not without the act.
I harmonize scripture with scripture to prove my point, yet you resort to faulty human logic.
How can something so simple not be understood is beyond me.
It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24-28; 4:2-6; 5:1); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony.* SIMPLE!
"Does some stupid person want proof that faith without works is useless?" James 2:20 CEV
Faith that lacks evidential works (produces no works at all) is not genuine faith, but is an empty profession of faith/dead faith. James is not teaching that we are saved by works, yet works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of genuine faith.
Sometimes even proof is not enough.
Your faulty human logic is not proof of anything.