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When the apostle reflects for half a chapter of his epistle on the role of works in justification and concludes "Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?" then no amount of looking someplace else in the Bible can make this verse say its opposite. When an authoritative text is twisted around to alter its meaning, that process is called obfuscation: overloading a clear text with meaning not in it, in other words, lying about the Gospels. That it is not innocent mush in the brain of Mrs. Luther, Chambers and Henry, but rather intentional and crafty denial of the Scripture is seen from the fact that the doctrine in question is a fundamental Protestant doctrine without which all these charlatans would be without a job.

When the apostle reflects for half a chapter of his epistle on the role of works in justification and concludes "Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?" then no amount of looking someplace else in the Bible can make this verse say its opposite. When an authoritative text is twisted around to alter its meaning, that process is called obfuscation: overloading a clear text with meaning not in it, in other words, lying about the Gospels.

Where do you get that anyone is twisting Scripture, lying about it or needing to obfuscate anything??? IF James is really saying we are justified before God by our works as well as our faith, then how can the following verses also be true?:

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)

For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Galatians 3:10,11)

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. (Romans 3:23-25)

And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (Galatians 5:3-5)

For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5)

As you know, there ARE many more that contradict the idea that our works help to save us. You can deny it intentionally or craftily but you cannot declare God contradicts His own word. The doctrine of salvation and justification by faith apart from works IS a fundamental doctrine and it WAS that which the entire Christian church once held. That Roman Catholicism perverted the truth of the gospel is one of the primary reasons the Reformation happened. Our works of righteousness can NEVER contribute to our justification and salvation. It is wholly by the grace of God. Do not frustrate or nullify that grace.

An additional thought...

I believe the references I provided along with the relevant Scripture passages more than adequately explained how the book of James is perfectly in line with and in no way contradicts the doctrine of salvation and our justification being by grace through faith apart from our works.

I've seen the twisting and wrangling the Roman Catholic church had to do to that doctrine over the centuries in her attempts to explain away the blatant and obvious problem that exists when a few passages seem to be saying the polar opposite of multiple other ones. St. Peter warned that it was the unstable and unlearned who would find Paul's writings hard to understand and who would twist and distort them to their own destruction. Quibbling turned to out and out lying which proceeded to persecution and execution of those who would not play along. Not one Reformer advocated for what is called "cheap grace" or "easy believism" which was often the accusation of polemicists, afraid to trust the work of the Holy Spirit within the life of each believer.