“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
James 2:24 ESV

This verse has been pushing me to major contemplations about my faith and the Bible. Should James be a part of the canon of the NT? Do both works and faith justify a person before God? 1/?

James 2:24 is in the context of 2:18, which says:

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works (ESV).

So James shows his faith via his works. 2/?

2:18 is also in the context of 2:14, which says:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him (ESV)?

It seems to me that a faith apart from works can therefore not save. So does works+faith justify? 3/?

Does “can that faith save him” indicate there is a faith that saves and a faith that doesn’t? Or does it just mean faith without works cannot save? 4/?

Regarding Abraham’s faith/works, James 2:22 says:

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works (ESV).

Do I complete my faith with works? Or does my faith *produce* works? James never says faith produces works, right? 5/?

I fear that I project meaning to James 2 that doesn’t exist if I say, “This means faith produces works.” He *does* say:

1) faith without works cannot save (v14)
2) faith is shown by works (v18)
3) works complete faith (v22)
4) both works and faith justify (v24)

6/?

I’ll pause here and add more later. Anyone have any insight into James 2 that proves it doesn’t contradict other sections of Scripture (i.e., Eph. 2:8-9)?

I’ll add to this thread other questions or conclusions soon. 7/?