James 2 is about salvation in eternity you say? Are you saved? Do you know
absolutely that you are saved? Are you proving your faith by works? You mean to say you know absolutely, in light of your sins, that you are proving the "sincerity" of your faith by works? Come on. Instead of sitting there all red-faced convicting yourself because you are too proud to admit the absurdity of your view lest you be labeled one of those terrible "antinomians", why not simply notice what James is really teaching?:

  James 2:1 ¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

  Context sure solves a lot of problems doesn’t it? James is not writing to "pretend" Christians. He is writing to saved Hebrews. He calls them "brethren" and doesn’t add "according to the flesh". He says "our Lord" when referring to Christ. He is telling them to be nice to each other; he is not telling them to learn how to be saved in eternity:

  James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?m

  These "beloved brethren" are "called" Christians.

  James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

  This is talking about the Judgment Seat of Christ in regard to Christians. James tells these saints that if they don’t start being merciful they are not going to receive any mercy. Is this how we get saved in eternity?! No.

  "Well uh, James is saying this is what believers naturally will do if they are really saved."

  James is saying that? Where? You are saying that because the plain words on the page refute your Romanized theology!

  James 2:14 ¶ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

  Now we have arrived at the classic place where nine preachers out of ten suddenly forget how to read. This verse follows verse 13. Verse 13 was in reference to the Judgment Seat of Christ for Christians. If Christians showed mercy they would get mercy from God. If they did not show mercy, they would not get mercy at the Judgment Seat:

  James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

  The "faith" in verse 14 is the "faith" mentioned at the start of the chapter:

  James 2:1 ¶ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

  As Christians, they are to make sure they add good works to their faith. They can have this precious faith with bad works or good works. This is a faith that the Christian is to exercise and act on for salvation at the Judgment Seat of Christ, not salvation in eternity!

  James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

  There is nothing in verse 17 about a "true faith". James says plainly that faith needs works ADDED to it. Faith cannot be ALONE to save. If James is talking about salvation in eternity then we would certainly have quite a problem! Yet, anyone who takes the time to read the whole Book of James can easily see that James is talking about salvation at the Judgment Seat of Christ for people already saved in eternity.
  
 The reason that people have such a hard time seeing this is because their flesh would rather have the warfare of the Christian life by grace, and salvation in eternity through works! They have a cute little Judgment Seat where Christians win or lose "happy meals". This Judgment Seat cannot sustain words such as "condemn",  "saved", "justified", etc. Therefore, they immediately apply these words to the only thing left in their twisted theology: salvation in eternity. It is tradition that has told these confused souls that such words can only apply to one thing in the Bible! Yet,  they would rather ignore the fact that James does not say a "faith that proves it is real by works". James is looking for a faith that has works ADDED to it!

  The key does not fit. Give up. James is not talking about becoming a Christian or proving to someone you are a Christian. James is writing to Christians and he is telling them to be good little boys and girls. He is telling them to believe in the coming kingdom and hope in it. Yet, he reminds them that they will need more thanjust belief (faith) in this prize to win it. They will need to add works to their belief. As Moses and Noah, they need to use their faith as as support to work and run by:

  James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

  Loving God is a work. It involves loving your fellow man. They need to remember the promise of the kingdom and use this hope to stir them to good works. Faith alone does not "save" a Christian into the Millennium. It will take works added to the faith which supports them:

  James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

  The event in regard to Abraham took place in Genesis 22. (Pauls refers to Gen.15 in Romans 4). The "justification" is simply God being pleased with a practical work in a relative sense. This verse shows that James is talking about works ADDED to faith.
  He is not talking about a "A real faith that proves it is not spurious by working, blah, blah, etc..." Real faith with no works will not justify at the Judgment Seat. We need real faith with the added works of obedience to the commandments.

  Faith is simply that which inspires motivation by its vision.

  God tells Christians that if they suffer and labor they will win the prize of reigning in the Millennial Kingdom. Believing this is half the battle, but it is not enough. The Christian must also go fight the giants! He must lift his shield of faith in war:

  James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

  I truly wish that many modern preachers did see it! Yet, they do not. They are so confused. You can’t get any plainer than James here. Faith alone does not justify.
  
Praise God that James is talking to those who are already "justified in eternity"  through "faith alone". Praise God he is telling those who are already justified by grace through faith alone in the Blood of Jesus, that they need to now strive for  Kingdom reward through faith and works:

  Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

  11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

  12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

  Kingdom reign in the "world to come" is not obtained by faith alone. It is obtained by faith and patience! Faith and love. Faith and mercy. Let us not run around in circles like dogs chasing our tails. We do not have time for all these confused discourses that end in a puddle of contradiction laced with high sounding theological words. If you are not absolutely sure you are saved by the Blood of Jesus then believe on Him now and get sure! Then, race for the Millennial Kingdom through faith and works. Lift that shield and fight to reign!

Article by Pastor Joey Faust 
Refuge Church
http://www.rkjbc.org