Hi Desertrose. Good point. I think James IS making a contrast, but that doesn't really address the fact that Jesus wasn't a demon, and didn't die for them. They also DO NOT love, which is a Fruit, not a work, of the Holy Spirit.
As I was reading some of the posts, I don't believe that Ariel was inferring that Jesus was a demon, nor that He died for them. If I'm wrong than I apologize ahead of time. Sometimes we all misunderstand what's being said.
It's just that I didn't read any of that in Ariel's posts. 
I didn't see her saying demons love either. She was trying to make the point that James was showing two types of faith and only one is genuine.
The classic example of a workless, yet Fruitful, SAVED Christian, is the thief on the Cross. He had NO works, only faith in his declaration of who Jesus is. Yet he continues to produce Fruit. How many prisoners have come to the Lord because of his example?
I don't believe this absolves Christians from doing good works, but those good works must not be blurred with the idea that they are necessary for salvation.
This is where I get really confused. I almost feel like, because of the way some respond, work or obey becomes a four letter word.
Some seem to want to tiptoe around the word 'works' in fear that they'll be tagged with some type of spiritual disease. Jesus said that works will follow, obedience will follow, fruit will follow.
I'll use a scripture out of 1 Peter since that's what I'm studying at the moment, but there are many scriptures that tell us that genuine faith is NOT PERFECTION, but a new creation in Christ will work, will obey, will produce fruit.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. 1 Peter 1:1-2
Here Peter is telling us that we're chosen TO OBEY. Being saved by grace through faith is righteous. We've been removed from the kingdom of darkness and placed into the kingdom of light. We're a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people to show forth the praises of Him who has brought us out of darkness, into His marvelous light.
The old man and the new man have drastic differing characteristics. Even the thief on the cross had a change of heart. Had he lived he would have continued on in the faith....the faith that works.
I believe you can be a workless, even sinning, saved Christian, BUT I GUARANTEE, if you have been saved, given a new heart, and are a new creation,YOU WILL BE A MISERABLE person. God will not leave you in that state. Either your'e His child, and He will do what's necessary to draw you back to Him, or you are not, and He will eventually harden your heart. I don't think you can grieve the Holy Spirit without consequence. I unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, am a living testament to that fact.
I agree that a true believer can get caught up in sin. We have David as a perfect example of that. But the true believer can't stay in a sinful lifestyle. Eventually they'll repent and return to the Lord. And this is how we need to teach.
If we love others, we can't look the other way if they're in fellowship. We must address sin and remove the one who is living a sinful lifestyle from among us if they refuse to repent for the purpose of repentance and reconciliation. And that goes for the liar, the gossiper, the sexually immoral, the drunkard.......whatever.
Love Him. Love each other. Let Him work in you to do the works He made you to do.
Yes and Amen. Love the brother enough to go to him when you see a brother/sister caught up in sin. Love them back into the truth by being willing to be used as God would have us........speak the truth in love for the purpose of regaining your brother back.
If you believe that you can go on living like the devil after putting your faith in Jesus Christ and not worry about Gods wrath, then you obviously do not know the truth.
