James 2:17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
James 2:18 But some man will say : Thou hast faith, and I have works : shew me thy faith without works ; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well : the devils also believe and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 2:22 Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?
James 2:25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?
James 2:26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.
I accept the Scriptures as my authority on Salvtion, not Martin Luther, but apparently some folks prefer Luther to the Apostles.
The scriptures are the only possible source of reliable information on what Christianity is about. If someone is a Christian, then they would be wise to read and follow scripture. Like you wrote, I wouldn’t trust anyone who contradicted what scripture said. The Bible is like the US Constitution. It’s plainly written.
I John 5:12-13 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 4:2-3 “ For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Titus 3:5 “Not 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”
Galatians 2:16 “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.”
It has been said that faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone.