What is the "context of who James wrote to and why"?
hearers only and not doers. People who CLAIMED to have faith, But had no (zero zip nada) works. can this "type" f faith save them?
If Paul said that those who are saved by GRACE through faith APART FROM WORKS. If he said that Those who are saved by that grace WILL PERFORM WORKS, then is someone who does NOT have the works paul said they WOULD have have the type of saving faith called for?
James said they are hearers only, not doers. they are deceived. As apposed to those who are true hearers and believers, as they are doers of the word. He claims they believe, and that's fine, Even demons believe, But are demons saved by true living faith in God? Of course not, They believe in God, but they do not have faith in him, which is why they left in the first place.
its amazing you put mere believers in God, equal to demons, as people who have or ever had saving faith.
James said their faith was dead.
so tell me, can a person who has DEAD FAITH. be saved?
here is the fact, they do not have works, BECAUSE THEIR FAITH HAS NO LIFE, if it did, they would have work. they would not be perfect. Yet they would have works. Because they have LIVING FAITH
in reality, their CLAIMED FAITH was false. they never had faith to begin with, proven by the fact they NEVER HAD WORKS. and still lived like the word. Hearers of the word. not doers. self deceived people. who think because they probably said some sinners prayer or somethign, they are saved, and can live however they want.
news flash. they are just as lost as religious people who think they must work to earn their salvation.