We Are Justified By Works (James 2:24)?

Does James Contradict Paul?

The quotes from James and Paul will seem to some to be an argument, but it is not. Both sides of the coin of truth are true. Antinomians need James and those going about to establish their own righteousness need Paul. To take only one and not the other is dualism.

James:… faith apart from works is useless (James 2:20)

Paul: God imputes righteousness apart from works (Rom 4:6)

James: Was not Abraham our father justified by works? (James 2:21)

Paul: For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about (Rom 4:2)

James:  a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24)

Paul: a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (Rom 3:28)

And the dead were judged according to their works (Rev 20:12) [Not according to their faith. We are saved by faith but faith is not alone. The proof of faith on judgment day is works.]

Disobedience Equals Unbelief

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Heb 3:18)

[We are slaves to what we believe in the heart.]

  Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

(Luke 6:46 ESV)

 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mt 7:23)

One can obey “outwardly” without faith, but cannot obey inwardly. “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him” (1 John 3:6 ESV).