Apparently I should’ve phrased that better.
To use James’ terminology: The spirit is what makes the body a living body. Likewise works are what make faith a living, saving faith.
As the writer of Hebrews says, faith accomplishes its purpose after the works are done.
But the works are done by the body and the faith is in the spirit. So that analogy would be backwards.
Living faith is what produces works that bring God glory and accomplish His purpose on earth.
As the writer of Hebrews says, faith accomplishes its purpose after the works are done.
Where?
And faith's purpose is accomplished by the works, so in that respect, faith is completed, but faith alone is still what saves someone to go on to produce works.
I think one of the problems is that people can do what are considered good things, good works, for whatever reason, and yet they are not the fruit of faith.
Additionally, the works are works that God prepared before hand for the believer to walk in, not works that people by themselves decide to do thinking that it contributes to attaining salvation.