I guess you have not read Romans…
“For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
Romans 3:28 NIV
Ephesians 2 is not preaching faith alone.
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“For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
Romans 3:28 NIV
It has everything to do with sinners repenting of their transgressions for Jesus' sake.
Faith-alone justification without repentance unto continued sinning against Christ, is false.
The justification by works in James 2, is with the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ that saves. The works of faith are to be justified with God, not with men only.
Matthew{23:5}
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Jhn 5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
James 2 is not preaching works to be justified with men alone, and not with God.
Jesus taught having faith more than any man, and did not teach what He did not Himself have as a man of God.
Eph{2:8}
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
God gives grace and faith to do His will. God does not give to man, what God does not Himself have.
Eph 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Jas 2:1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
Gal 3:22
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Rev 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Sinful men that repent not to have the faith of Jesus Christ, do not want His faith to keep His commandments, and to walk as he walked by His own faith toward the Father. And so neither do they confess walking as He walked.
Sinful men that repent not, only want their own faith to justify themselves, while continuing to walk after the flesh, to commit sins and trespasses against God and His Christ.
Man's philosophy denotes lack of faith and knowledge of Scripture and God.
Col 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Eph 4:2
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
There is one faith of our Lord Jesus Christ to save and justify all men, that repent of sinning against Him.
There is no faith given by God to seek justification with men by works, but not justification with God.
No one has Jesus Christ without receiving His faith to do good and not evil.
Heb 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
No man doing unrighteousness against God has the faith of Jesus toward God, nor is faithful to Jesus Christ.
Heb {6:1}
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
You're avoiding Romans 2 to punch on Romans 3:20 keeping the law, that has nothing to do with transgressors of law being judged the same as all transgressors of the law.
Having the law alone or faith-alone does not justify any man doing the same evil of men without law nor faith.
All the diversions, manipulations, and flower-strewn speeches about faith-alone justification, is summed up in one hypocrisy:
That someone having-faith alone can be jsutified with Christ while doing the same things as unbelieving transgressors, that are not justified with Christ.
No faith-alone justifier ever denies this simple religious hypocrisy, that is worse than all other religious hypocrisies, because they name Christ while doing so.
2Ti 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Some hypocrite Jews did so in the name of the God of Israel, by having the law-alone. Some hypocrite Christians do so in the name of Christ, by having their faith-alone.
Rom 2:23
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God. For the name of God is blasphemed among the nations through you, as it is written.
Rom 2:23
Thou that makest thy boast of faith, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God. For the name of God is blasphemed among the nations through you, as it is written.
By transgressing the law of Christ, outward circumcision is made uncircumcision, and inward faith is made unbelief.
Paul wrote those verses to show how condemned anyone can be by transgressing the law of God.
He wrote them to show that everyone committing sin is unsaved and unjustified with God. Neither outward circumcision alone, nor inward faith-alone justifies any transgressor against God.
You need to take off your present unholy sinning religion glasses and obey Gospel Scripture.
Mark{1:15}
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Acts{3:19}
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
2Th 1:7
And to you who are troubled rest with us,When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
The only difference between you and unbelievers, is they do not name Christ and magnify self-justification.
Your fundamental error is assuming that everyone who believes in salvation by faith alone also believes that cessation from sin is not necessary.
Where you got this wacky hogwash, I've no idea, but you would do well to discover what people ACTUALLY believe instead of throwing irrelevant criticism at what you erroneously ASSUME people believe.
1Co 9:21
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Paul confirms that all men, including Christians are under the law; though there be the lawless, that do not believe in the law of Christ.
All men's works are judged by the law of Christ. All those transgressing His law are under the curse of the law. All those keeping the law of Christ by faith toward God, fulfill the law.
Rom 8:4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Mat 5:17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Rom 2:27
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Gal 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Jas 2:8
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
What a jumbled theology you have.
The law only provides a knowledge of sin and nothing else.
The purpose of the law was to prepare Israel for the messiah.
Once you have a deep awareness of your inability to obey even simple laws.
Then you will hurl yourself at the feet of the messiah.
Alas, that did not happen in Israel they actually did the opposite.
Israel crucified own messiah.
Romans 10:21
All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people (Israel).
The letter to the Romans is describing in detail why the Jews failed to achieve righteousness,
through the law.
Paul is not describing the Gentiles in Romans 2 to Romans 11.
The law of Christ is simply recorded in John's first letter.
1 John 3:23-24
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another,
just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him.
We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Gentiles are not under the Mosaic law.
No surprise faith-alone only seeks justification out of context, as though there is no law of Christ to obey and keep.
Rom 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Faith does not nullify keeping the law, as though being justified by faith-alone while transgressing the law.
Rom 3:21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 2:27
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Faith toward God establishes the law doing it's righteousness by nature, without the law being written.
1Ti 1:9
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
2Pe 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The law of Christ judges every man's work to condemn the transgressors. But the righteousness of the law is fulfilled by the Spirit written on the heart, and not on stone and paper alone.
The faith of the lawless does not nullify the law nor judgment of works by law. God judges no man by faith-alone, but only by works of good or evil from the heart.
I will give AI a crack at understanding the difference between the Mosaic law and grace.
Scripture only:
1. The Law was given to Israel in covenant
- “The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us…” (Deuteronomy 5:2–3)
- “He declares…his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation…” (Psalm 147:19–20)
- “The words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 34:28)
2. Gentiles were not under that covenant
- “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ…alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise” (Ephesians 2:12)
- “You are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14)
- “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18)
3. The apostles did not place the Law on Gentiles
- “Why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10)
- “It has seemed good…to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements” (Acts 15:28)
4. The Law is fulfilled in love
- “He who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8)
- “The whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14)
- “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10)
5. Jesus identified love as the core command
- “You shall love the Lord your God…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40)
6. Jesus gave a new commandment
- “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you” (John 13:34)
- “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
7. This love is the fulfillment and goal
- “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5)
- “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)
Conclusion from Scripture:
- The covenant Law (including the Ten Commandments) was given to Israel.
- Gentiles were not originally under that covenant and were not placed under it by the apostles.
- The Law is fulfilled in love.
- Jesus’ commandment centers on love—as He loved.
So according to Scripture, love (agape) is the fulfillment of the Law and the defining command under Christ.
Not being justified by faith-alone, both the body and the faith dies with the grave.
Rom 6
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
If there is anyone having justification by faith-alone apart from works, that is not justified by faith-alone while doing an evil work, then say so.
You've be the first.
But, if faith-alone justifies while committing sin against Christ, then ceasing sinning against Christ is not necessary to be justified by faith-alone.
I know where you get this wacky hogwash, that faith-alone justification includes cessation from sinning. But you would do well to ACTUALLY say so, instead of throwing irrelevant criticism at what you erroneously ASSUME other faith-alone Christians believe.
Go ahead and declare that faith-alone does not justify any man, that is doing any evil deed.
1Jo 3:8
He that is committing sin is of the devil; for the devil is sinning from the beginning.
I see no value in providing direct questions to hypocritical non answers
Mat 21:27
And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell.
All NT Scripture law of Christ applies to every person on earth, but only isn't applied by OT unbelieving Jews, and unbelievers of the nations.