Does James disagree with Paul?
• JAMES: “A man is justified by works and not by faith only” (Jas 2:24) • PAUL: “A man is justified by faith apart from works” (Rom 3:28). James is saying that we cannot be saved by FAITH ALONE. Faith must be perfected by works. Paul is saying that we cannot be saved by WORKS ALONE. Works must be perfected by faith. Both statements are true. We are all “without works” sufficient to justify ourselves. We all fall short of God’s glory, so boasting of our own righteousness is excluded (Romans 3:27). However God’s law is not excluded, and by faith we obey God’s law, just as Abraham did. So Paul and James are in agreement.
