LETTER OF JAMES SAYING FAITH AND WORKS JUSTIFY NOT FAITH ALONE

In the New Testament, the apostle James writes that belief alone cannot save for even the Devils believe.  He said that real faith is accompanied by good works and says Abraham was justified by his faith and his works.  Paul writes that faith saves when you have done nothing.  Is there a contradiction?

The simple answer is that faith for Paul meant faith that is a gift from God that you do not deserve but which brings fruit in good works.  It is a working faith that saves.  You are saved for good works not because of good works.  Both agreed that you come to God with nothing and he gives you the gift of faith.  Faith that brings fruit in good works alone saves.  James was rejecting the notion that belief alone can save.  Paul agreed. For them belief is just belief. Faith is like belief but is a relationship of trust with God where you trust him to inform you what to believe and do and let him work in you.

APPENDIX - QUOTE FROM SOMEWHERE

There is no real contradiction - Paul and James were speaking of ...

1. Different Justifications:
James was speaking of an eschatological justification (which is on the basis of works), while Paul was addressing an initial justification which is by grace through faith

2. Different aspects of justification:
Paul was saying that we are not saved by deeds, and James was saying we were saved for deeds.

3. Different problems:
Paul was tackling those who thought that "works of the law" was the way to acceptance with God; and James was addressing those who thought that faith without works could save;

4. Different meanings of faith were being used
Paul was talking about "faith" as trust in Christ, arising from a regenerate heart; James talking about "faith" as mere assent, in a non-regenerate heart.

5. Different "works" being discussed
Paul was denying the need for "works" as ceremonial rites (circumcision, dietary laws, etc); while James was maintaining the need for "works" as moral deeds and especially acts of charity.

 
WORKS CONSULTED

A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, Catholic Truth Society, London, 1985
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CATHOLICS ARE ASKING Tony Coffey, Harvest House, Eugene, Oregon, 2006
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A Withering Branch, Joseph H Harley, John English and Co, Wexford, 1956
All One Body – Why Don’t We Agree? Erwin W Lutzer, Tyndale, Illinois, 1989
An Examination of Tulip, Robert L Sumner, Biblical Evangelism Press, Indiana. 1972
Apologia Pro Vita Sua, John Henry Newman, JN Dent & Sons Ltd, London, 1955
Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic, David B Currie, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 1996
Can a Saved Person Ever Be Lost, John R Rice, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1943
Christian Answers About Doctrine, John Eddison, Scripture Union, London, 1973
Doubt The Consequences Cause and Cure, Curtis Hutson Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1983
Eight Gospel Absurdities if a Born-Again Soul Ever Loses Salvation John R Rice Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1946
Encyclopaedia of Bible Difficulties, Gleason W Archer, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982
Four Great Heresies, John R Rice, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1975
How to be a Christian without Being Religious, Fritz Ridenour, Regal Books, California, 1970
HyperCalvinism, John D Rice, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1970
Is it necessary for you to be baptised to be saved? Hoyt H Houchen, Guardian of Truth, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Legalism – A Smokescreen, Mike Allison, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1986
Radio Replies, Vol 1, Frs Rumble and Carty, Radio Replies Press, St Paul Minnesota, 1938
Radio Replies, Vol 2, Frs Rumble and Carty, Radio Replies Press, St Paul Minnesota, 1940
Radio Replies, Vol 3, Frs Rumble and Carty, Radio Replies Press, St Paul, Minnesota, 1942
Reasons for Hope, Editor Jeffrey A Mirus, Christendom College Press, Virginia, 1982
Saved For Certain, John R Rice, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1953
The Catholic Church has the Answer, Paul Whitcomb, TAN, Illinois, 1986  
The Catholicity of Protestantism Ed R Newton Flew and Rupert E Davies, Lutterworth Press, London, 1950
The Dark Side, How Evangelical Teachings Corrupt Love and Truth, Valerie Tarico, Ph.D, Dea Press, Seattle, 2006
The Eternal Security of the Believer, Curtis Hutson, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1982
The Grace of God in the Gospel, John Cheeseman, Philip Gardner, Michael Sadgrove, Tom Wright, The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh, 1976
The Great Acquittal, Tony Baker, George Carey, John Tiller and Tom Wright, Fount, London, 1980
The Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin, Hodder and Stoughton, London,1986
The Other Side of Calvinism, Laurence M Vance, Vance Publications Pensacola, Florida, 1991
There is no Difference for all have Sinned, John R Rice, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1939
Unitarian Christianity and Other Essays, William Ellery Channing The Bobs-Merrill Company Inc, Kansas, 1957
Why I Disagree with All Five Points of Calvinism, Curtis Hutson, Sword of the Lord, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1980
 
BIBLE TRANSLATION USED
The Amplified Bible