Paul and James are not in conflict with each other. They are to be viewed in harmony, because Paul is talking about faith in the finished work of Christ that justifies a person before God, and James is talking about how a person demonstrates that faith in his subsequent converted state.
When a person is genuinely converted to Christ, he becomes a totally new person, moving in an entirely new direction in life, having totally different values. He has a hatred of sin and does what he can to avoid it. James points out that if a person professes to be a new creation in Christ by faith, then he has to show it in his conduct, ie: what he does. Loving God and his neighbour is shown by actions and not just empty talk. A person in Christ is no longer his own, he has been bought with a price; therefore he is obligated to follow the command of Christ to love God and his neighbour.
Paul shows that through faith in the finished work of Christ, there is no longer any condemnation for failure and shortcoming. The guilt, punishment and bondage to sin has been removed, allowing the believer to conduct himself according to the fruit of the Spirit (shown in his actions (works), and the power to forsake the works of the flesh.
In summary, the person's faith in the finished work of Christ justifies him before God. The way the believer conducts himself subsequently, justifies his faith in Christ.
Now for the facts:
It’s sad that the majority of believers never read anything but someone’s proof texts on a given topic - this is especially true about works.
They quote
Ephesians 2:8-9 about being saved apart from works, without having a clue what works Paul’s talking about, then assume any condition or requirement of a believer is a work, then declare confidently that absolutely nothing is required of us after salvation.
There was a serious controversy in Paul’s day, because many of the Jewish Christians claimed that gentile believers were still required to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses.
It got bad enough that all the apostles and church leaders met in Acts 15 to decide what should be done about the problem.
In Paul’s writings, he being the apostle TO the gentiles, emphasizes continually that gentile believers, and all believers are saved apart from works of the law of Moses.
Every time Paul mentions law, the law, works of the law, or works, or works of righteousness*, he is always referring to the works of the law of Moses, as the context shows.
( * Deuteronomy 6:25 Keeping the works of the law, was for their righteousness)
We are justified by faith apart from the works of the law of Moses, which is made up of 613 statutes, commands, and laws that all have to be kept.
We don’t have to sacrifice animals, keep feast days, burnt offerings, or any of the works of the law of Moses - but there are works other than the works of the law of Moses, and James is emphasizing the type of works required of believers for justification.
Therefore Paul doesn’t cancel out James.
James is talking about works that take care of those in need: widows and orphans,
James 1:27, those naked and hungry
James 2:15, which is part of keeping the royal law, the law of love, per the great commandment Jesus gave, which has two parts: loving God with all our heart, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, and we are judged if we fail to keep the royal law,
James 2:8-13.
James warns us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only,
James 1:22, , and deceiving ourselves.
In fact Jesus sends to hell as sinners, those who did nothing to help the needy in
Matthew 25:31-46.
We know from James that the damned in
Matthew 25:31-46 failed to keep the royal law of love -( and scripture says if you know to do good and fail to do it, that’s a sin )- thus they are sent to hell as sinners, for their sin of ignoring those in need - they are the epitome of those who failed to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, and deceived themselves right into hell. James 1:22
Are we justified by works of the law of Moses? Absolutely not.
Are we justified by works of taking cars of widows, orphans, the hungry, naked, and homeless and the needy? Absolutely yes.
Jas 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
Jas 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
Jas 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jas 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
Jas 2:20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father
justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
Jas 2:22 You see that faith was active along with his works,
and faith was completed by his works;
Jas 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
Jas 2:24
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone
There you have it:
Paul: we are not justified by the (613) works of the law of Moses.
James: we are justified by works of helping the needy, and of obedience.