James 2:24

"You see that. man is justified by works, and not by faith alone"."You see" -A conclusion that James believes that all should be able to see clearly-this isn't hard to understand or comprehend."justified by works" -"Works" in the context are obedience to the commands of God (James 2:21). The works under consideration are not----- following human traditions, rules or the Law of Moses (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5). There are various commands that must be obeyed before we can be accounted as righteous or forgiven: The command to believe that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24); the command to repent (Acts 17:30); the command to express our belief in. confession (Romans 10:9); the command to be baptized (Mark 16:16). "not by faith alone" -"merely, only, alone" (Thayer p. 418). The same truth is presented in James 1:22; James 2:17; James 2:20. Note, that James never says that. man is not justified by faith, but the faith that results in justification is active and responsive to the commands of God. But faith that doesn't act, conviction that doesn't express itself---never has saved anyone. Obedience to the commands of God without the proper motive doesn't save---and mere mental assent doesn't save either.