Faith - Not mental assent, a deep belief and acceptance in the Gospel. We believe in the Lord's Life, Burial and Resurrection. We accept Him at His word that those who Believe HAVE eternal life, not conditional life. We believe Him when he paid for ALL our sins (past, present, future), he took upon the tree all our sin and we took on HIS Righteousness. He accomplished it all, there is nothing that we lack in HIS sight. We continue to become like Him (Sanctification), but We already have His Righteousness in God's sight.
Works - Our works, done in HIS service are from Love, Gratitude, and our duty as His purchased trophies of Grace. We have been changed, our affections our different, We Love the Brethren, we occasionally sin and our regretful. Sin is no longer direction of our lives, We WANT to please Him. See 1 John 1.
James 2 is for those who say they have Faith, but do not show a change in their life or attitude. They either have only mental assent or are fooling themselves. Faith produces works. Fig tree and fruit. If there is no change in ones life, there is no life.
Exactly my point. The only way to know that you are "saved" is to walk the walk. You can be deceiving yourself.