And faith is by hearing, which is the planted word. Once the word is heard, the seed is sown, whether the soul likes it or not.
Those who hate the word, have the seed taken immediately, but those convicted and agreeing with the word, have the seed planted. Until the seed of Christ is obeyed, there is no sun of Christ shining, nor rain of the Spirit upon the ground to take root and grow.
Faith without works is dead seed planted only, not taking root.
Salvation before, separate, and independently apart from works by faith only, leads to the devilish doctrine of them that justify a night of drunken fornication among the sons of God, so long as it doesn't become a 'habit'.
As I said, there is no correction for something like that, just out of hand condemnation and dismissal from the churches of God.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17) and the planted seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11) Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts,
lest they should believe and be saved. (Luke 8:12) But the ones that fell on the
good ground are those who, having
heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15) A shallow, temporary belief that has no root, produces no fruit, lacks moisture and withers away does not represent saving faith. (Matthew 13:20-21; Mark 4:5-6; Luke 8:6)
Faith without works is dead does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith or that works are the source of life in faith. That's like saying a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree and the fruit is the source of life in the tree. James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works demonstrates that it's dead. If someone merely
says-claims they have faith,
but lack resulting evidential works, then they demonstrate that they have an
empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. (James 2:14) So 'faith only' per James is a
bare profession of faith. Hence, the 'only.' Not to be confused with faith that trusts in Christ alone for salvation.
Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but
believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom
God imputes righteousness apart from works.
Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it is the
gift of God, 9
not of works, lest anyone should boast. This is faith that trusts in Christ alone for salvation.
