by Dave Brown
Ye often hear it said ...
We are saved by faith only . . .
but James said (James 2:24):
"Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Note first that this in no way diminishes the role of faith in our salvation. Just the opposite: James defines exactly what true and living faith is, and this is exemplified throughout the bible (see Hebrews 11). Never was a person saved by faith without that faith exhibiting itself is some action (work).
James starts out by asking (vs. 14): "What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?" This question admits that such is possible, and James goes on to state that demons have such faith (19). Raw belief is not enough; it must motivate action pleasing to God. So, James defines the two types of faith that can exist in verse 26: "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead."
The faith that we are saved by is living faith, not dead faith. Living faith will motivate us to accomplish the rest of the conditions that God has given, all of which proceed from faith.