Here is the issue
when someone says one must work. Or they are not saved., then they are speaking justification by works
True. That's what James says. Faith alone can't save anyone, and we are justified by works, and not by faith only.
when you hear one say one works BECAUSE they are saved. Then they are speaking of sanctification.
True too. We sanctify and cleanse ourselves in the spirit first and in the flesh also.
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. (Matthew 23)
Outward works of our own, are without God, His faith, nor His Spirit. Clean outside and still filthy inside.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.(2 Cor 7)
The problem is group number one starts screaming that people are against work.
I've never heard anyone scream on a web site. ;) My experience has been pretty much the opposite. I don't bully people that trust in faith alone, but just show the Bible that says it's dead and untrustworthy for the soul. What I observe on the other side is all manner of name-calling such as self-righteous, boasters, grace deniers, etc...with exclamation points, which I suppose is yelling in print. Whenever works are spoken of within a mile of salvation and justification, the grace and faith alone lovers bring out the pitchforks. Which I don't mind at all, since words do not harm me, especially in type only.
Because people reject their works of works of faith,
Now you reject works of faith, as well as works? Or just when any works, including works of faith, are within a mile of salvation and justification? ;)
and try to show them they are trying to earn justification.
And so you confirm my issue with people such as yourself. No matter how much we refer to the Bible to show being justified by works, is not
trusting in our works to be saved, you simply default to your flow-chart screen, and say we are trying to 'earn' or work for justification on our own, as though God were indebted to us for doing good.
I would say obtain justification by works of faith in God, the same as obtaining salvation by believing God from the heart.
It really is simple. Doing God's good works and being justified by Christ for doing them from the heart, is not any doer of God's Word trusting in their own works to indebt Christ to them. We don't do our own works anymore, but only do those things that please God, because we love Him. When we do them, we are justified with God in doing so. Therefore, no an can possibly be justified with God, when doing nothing at all, especially when doing the work of the devil in works of the flesh.
When we we love Him and love doing His word, He justifies us
as doing His good works, not our own. We only do so, because we believe and trust His word is true, so that when we do His word, we are doing the truth of God. Thus, all such works are justified as being of God and not of man.
I hate vain thoughts and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. (Psalms 119)
Some men trusting in another word of religion, and believe doing those works justify them with the true God, so that their trust is misplaced, and their works are vain and dead in sight of God.
But, faith alone people rank all works the same, and make no difference between them being done with God or not, so that no works have any place in their salvation and justification in. They may like anyone else do good works as a matter of course, but only those works done in love of Jesus are justified with God.
Before I being saved, I never did anything in order to please God, nor cared what His word says, much less seeking to do it. I did all things by my own faith and will alone, including sometimes good and sometimes not good. That's why faith alone is dead to God and saves nor justifies any man.
Now, the only reason I do anything is because I believe, trust, and love God and His word, and so my works are born of Him, and not of myself, and so am justified by my works in love with Him.
All James is saying, is that without works of love, there is no love in the heart. Without loving God and man, we cannot possibly have the faith of God in our hearts. Faith and love undone, is dead to God and unjustified in His sight.