I respectfully disagree; works are an integral component to our salvation, as is faith through grace. God calls us to good works not only as an expression of our faith but also as a condition for salvation. James provides a reminder and discounts the belief of sola fides…
“What does it profit, my brethren, even though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?” James 2:14 Here, the answer is no as a single condition. Again,
“Even so faith if it has not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:17
These two passages are typical of the doctrine that both are required. Again, James accents this by further adding,
“Yes, a man may say, you have faith and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18
“But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20
“Do you see that faith worked along with his works, and by the works the faith was made perfect?” James 2:22
“You see then how that by works, a man is justified, and not by faith only.” James 2:24
This passage sums up my point and is a summation that works are required, but not works alone.
James. Every Catholic’s fall-back. Fortunately, James does not exist apart from the rest of Scripture. And, he can not be understood apart from the rest of Scripture. James speaks of faith without works being dead, but then talks about SHOW ME your faith without works and I’ll SHOW YOU my faith by my works. Without works, the word has no idea we are Christians. Works are an outward manifestation of what has already occurred inside. They do not save us. They justify our stance before men as Christians because they show that we are Christians.
2 Timothy 1:9
9Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Titus 3:5-7
5Not 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;
6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Romans 4:4-5: “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
Galatians 3:21-22: “For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; ...
Romans 5:9
9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.