The person who doesn't have any works doesn't have the promise of being saved by faith apart from works for that faith to somehow save him.
Sure they do (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:5-6, Titus 3:5 (kjv), Romans 11:5-6).
The man who does no works does not have a salvation to be undone.
Rom 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I would say that this is true even if they don't have any works to show for their faith / confession.
If they don't have any gold, sliver, or precious gems to show for their faith, they still "
shall be saved, yet so as by fire."
'
What folks often do with this passage is ignore the first part .. where James talks about the "Royal Law" of Scripture -
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James states that getting rid of the moral filth -and accepting the teachings of Jesus - can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
The above parallels Matt 7:24 - 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
James 1 echos parts of the Sermon on the Mount - where works is emphasized as requisite to salvation.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. '
James 2 continues on this theme --
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
Ouch..
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. -
Both Jesus -James -and Paul all refer to the same Royal Law .. the Golden Rule- the above being on of the numerous restatements of this rule given in Matt 5-7 - Sermon on the Mount.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Judge not - again emphasizing the Golden Rule .. what refers to as "the Rule that sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matt 7:12
Then .. after emphasizing deeds over and over - not a word about faith in the sacrifice as a requirement .. he lets loose on some early Christians that were promoting a Faith alone doctrine ... which James goes on to call "Foolish".
I will only say that a man cannot be forgiven of his past sins apart from (faith in) the blood of Jesus (Romans 3:25, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:9).
Good post - although I baulk at using Pauline Scripture
Why? Jesus substantiated Peter in John 16:13; and Peter substantiated Paul in 2 Peter 3:15-16; and Paul backed up every other scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16; including his own writings.
The "Sola Fide" crowd believes that they will escape judgement on the basis of faith. This goes against the teachings of Jesus which state that we all must pass through judgement .. we will all be judged.
Jhn 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
and,
Jhn 6:47, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Yet - they will cling to some ambiguous passage - saying "look look - this looks to mean that we are saved by faith - and thus faith alone is scripture" while ignoring the vast amount of scripture from Jesus stating the contrary - in favor of some vague passage from a fellow that never knew the man.
When reading holy scripture, we must understand that every verse of scripture stands alone as a bastion of spiirutal truth and that there is not going to be a contradiction when we look at other scriptures on the same subject. Therefore, when comparing scripture with scripture (as per 1 Corinthians 2:13 (kjv)), it is important that we take into account those scripture passages or logical understandings that show us the reconciliation of scripture to scripture.
This subject is not hard to grasp...but people on one side or the other do not accept the truth that is given to them because of their foundational bias.
I believe that it is clear in Titus 3:5 (kjv)...
Tit 3:5, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
A person is not regenerated or renewed by "works of righteousness which we have done"; but when they are regenerated or renewed, they become inclined towards doing good works.
The works do not save them...they have already been saved...regenerated and renewed...by the mercy of the Lord.
What is worse - and happens often - is when these folks try to usurp the teachings of Jesus using Scripture such as Timothy - that was not even written by Paul ..
You have no proof of such an ideation...if 1 and 2 Timothy is not written by Paul, then the things written therein are a lie...because the claim of the author is that the author is Paul; and therefore if Paul is not the author, these epistles cannot be trusted.
Yet people throughout history continue to be saved and edified through these writings.
I has been said that the plenary inspiration of holy scripture is an anvil that has worn out the hammer of many a critic.
Good that you now understand that "Sola Fide" is false doctrine
There is no one here who believes that sola fide is a false doctrine...
Most people who have a head on their shoulders understand that we are saved (regenerated and renewed) by grace through faith apart from works (Romans 4:4-5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 11:5-6, Titus 3:5 (kjv)).
