Scripture doesn’t contradict itself. If man was justified by faith alone, then Romans would contradict James. Not likely. The object is to see both in the correct understanding.
Justified by Faith Alone could very easily result in False Faith which is dead faith. The magic wand and fairy dust dosen’t hit you and THEN you remain idle. Very much on the contrary as we see with St Paul. He encounters a vision in the “3rd heaven” and then while we can say Paul was at that moment Justified by Faith which he did not have prior to this moment. The Grace/Faith produced the Works and thus through the continued sancifying Grace of the Lord. Paul in that moment realized how wrong, at fault, and how far he was in his finite self from the infinite Lord. He was a “murderer” Thus the works which resulted as mentioned in 2-Cor 11 becomes not just relevant to Pauls salvation but imperative.
Linc is putting in what he truly doesn’t believe to be…“Good Works” here on CAF.
2-Corinthians 11 and we see St Pauls sufferings from his “works”. His penance is well documented. He suffered and knew what is was to suffer, just as Christ on the Cross. And he was sanctified by Grace is his suffering, and as he continued to suffer and follow the path he felt so obligated to do, for the Love of Christ and His Church. Paul could have started his own church, and why didn’t he if his belief was not the same as Christs already established Church?
James 2:24, “You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.”
Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith and works.
James begins by using the example of someone who says he has faith yet no works.
“What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” James 2:14.
Justification by Faith alone is this context is not Faith, it is self deception.
In other words, James is addressing the issue of a dead faith, a faith that is nothing more than a verbal declaration, a confession of the mind, and is not heart-felt for it is not moving to Christ, it stands still. It is empty of life and action. It does not inspire one to evolve in Gods Kingdom in whatever way the Lords has chosen for them.
James begins with the negative and demonstrates what an empty faith is (verses 15-17, words without actions). Then he shows that type of faith isn’t any different from the faith of demons (verse 19). Finally, he gives examples of living faith that has words followed by actions. Works follow true faith and demonstrate that faith to our fellow man, but not to God. James writes of Abraham and Rahab as examples of people who demonstrated their faith by their deeds.
Works thus itself must also be understood in context.
James is examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works and one that does not. One is true, and the other is false. One is dead, the other alive; hence, “Faith without works is dead,” (James 2:20). But, he is not contradicting the verses that Paul makes mention of throughout his letters Romans, Gal, Phil, etc.justification is by faith alone.
So the question then becomes this. If St Paul encounters this vision of the Lord. Then he decides, well thats its for Christian persecution, now that I know the truth I can just go home, plant a garden, fish and read the rest of my life. Im good! Justified by Faith alone:shrug:.
Had Paul done this, ignored the Church established on earth and its “oral tradition” what would have became of Paul without his works? How would his faith persevered? Yet if Paul is predestined as Calvin states, Justified by Faith Alone, then is exactly what he could have done and rightly entered Heaven by Gods predestined will. Paul was “chosen” by God, and “sent” by God to do HIS earthly…WORKS!
Of course we can say we are justified by faith alone and its Biblical, but one must “understand” the entire Biblical Context. And who but the Most Holy Catholic Church has been relaying this for 2000 years?
Council of Trent and its Canons correctly elaborate on this. For example
Canon 15.
If anyone says that a man who is born again and justified is bound ex fide to believe that he is certainly in the number of the predestined,[119] let him be anathema.
Canon 14.
If anyone says that man is absolved from his sins and justified because he firmly believes that he is absolved and justified,[118] or that no one is truly justified except him who believes himself justified, and that by this faith alone absolution and justification are effected, let him be anathema.
Canon 17.
If anyone says that the grace of justification is shared by those only who are predestined to life, but that all others who are called are called indeed but receive not grace, as if they are by divine power predestined to evil, let him be anathema.
Canon 9.
If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone,[114] meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema
Canon 7.
If anyone says that all works done before justification, in whatever manner they may be done, are truly sins, or merit the hatred of God; that the more earnestly one strives to dispose himself for grace, the more grievously he sins, let him be anathema.
There is “no” such thing Biblically except by “misunderstanding”. Or as I have been saying…
Canon 6.
If anyone says that it is not in man’s power to make his ways evil, but that the works that are evil as well as those that are good God produces, not permissively only but also propria et per se, so that the treason of Judas is no less His own proper work than the vocation of St. Paul, let him be anathema.
Thoughts on James from the “CARM” websight.
Acts 15:15; John 5:46; 2 Pet 1:20-21