Faith is an assurance.
it is different from mere belief, as in belief is just knowledge based. No assurance is necessary
Works are not required for faith. it is a byproduct of faith If you trust someone, you will at least do some of what they say)
James speaks of people who claim to have faith but has zero works period.
James calls this faith dead. or belief as in the demons believe also.
Mere belief has no assurance, It never repented. and it does not have power
thats why there is no works
But remember, These same people were in church. They were seating people (most likely ushers) many claim this as works. so it is not the actions which are in question. it is something else.
Amen! Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the
assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (NASB) Works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of faith, but not the essence of faith and not the basis or means by which we obtain salvation. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
In James 2:14, we read of one who
says/claims (key word) he has faith but has
no works (to validate his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a
bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can
that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an
empty profession of faith/dead faith. *So James
does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to
show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple! :)
*There are genuine Christians and there are "nominal" Christians. There are genuine believers and there are make believers and it's not hard to find both groups mixed together in various churches and on various Christian forums.