I agree Paul and James aren't speaking of the same kind of works, at least not everywhere. Though when Paul speaks of works in Ephesians the works he speaks of are close to the works James speaks of.
Not even close.
They are entirely different.
I agree, one cannot get saved through general good works/acts/deeds.
Not stay saved based on the same.
Yet it is clear,
we must act on our faith, BEFORE God will act on His promise.
Do you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ?
You say within yourself, 'yes, I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.'
Are you then saved because you believe the gospel?
NO, NO, and NO, YOU ARE NOT.
You did nothing with that belief, it is therefore still dead and useless.
Nothing was accomplished.
You have yet to eat and drink Jesus' flesh and blood, respectively.
No blood, no life.
By failing to act on said belief, absolutely NOTHING happened.
You are still a lost soul.
Not speaking about you personally.
Now answer me this, if you can.
Is the act of speaking what one believes in their heart, a work of the law, such as what Paul wrote in Eph 2:9?
"Not of works, lest any man boast".
No, my idea of faith is not a general acting or likeness of what other Christians are doing. Faith requires hearing. Not simply preaching, but also hearing from God. Faith is placing your trust into what God says, how He directs your life.
That is not what faith is, that is called, believing.
Faith is not an action word, as in, a verb, but it is a thing, as in, a noun.
As I stated earlier, both the author of Hebrews and Jesus stated what faith is, while Paul and James tell you HOW to use said faith.
The issue is you're making it the merit of personal faith that is of saving value. It misses the mark because salvation is external to us. It's not the force of our belief, but the action of God.
Scripture says otherwise.
The kingdom of heaven is WITHIN YOU.
And again,
Pro 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Pro 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pro 4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Whether you know it or not, it is the WORD OF GOD ITSELF, that saves us.
The word we receive, act on, and keep in our heart, is what saves us.
We are saved BY THE WORD OF GOD, and said word must be in our hearts, and released or sent forth, out our mouths, verbally, and the WORD OF GOD ITSELF, SAVES US.
We are saved and made the righteousness of God BECAUSE OF the seed/offspring of God, which is His word.
Without said seed/offspring in our heart, we are not or no more saved.
IT IS THE WORD OF GOD ITSELF THAT GIVES US LIFE, FOR IT IS BOTH THE FLESH AND BLOOD OF JESUS.
The blood is made of both blood and water.
The blood of Christ is a spirit/offspring/seed of THE SPIRIT OF GOD, and the water of the blood is the word of God.
The word of God is also the flesh of Jesus.
It is both the flesh and blood of Jesus, and without said word in us, we have no life in us.
We are told that we must both eat and drink Jesus' flesh and blood, respectively, or we have no life in us.
And how do we eat and drink Jesus' flesh and blood?
We do so by coming to him and receiving God's promised savior through the word we hear.
1Jn 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.