The parts you’ve highlighted show Paul discussing faith versus works of the law thus:
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
Jews and Gentiles, both had to show faith and that is what Paul discusses in Hebrews. In every instance mentioned in Hebrews faith is connected to action, visible, concrete action. Over and again Paul says, “By faith...” this and such was done.
The people named were not doing some “works” to be saved but their faith was alive and active, actions followed faith such that faith without action or works was a dead faith.
So James said both faith and works was necessary. (2:24)
In this Ephesians agrees. “...not our actions.” Indeed. It is not actions OR faith but actions AND faith.
You hit the nail on the head. Faith is action. Paul pointed out our works do not justify us. That does not mean our faith and God’s Grace are static. They are dynamic. If the root (Christ) is good so will the fruit be good. If there are no evidenced works, as James points out, then that faith is dead. All of the NT epistles give us statements the provide this “litmus test.”
Both Peter and Paul tell us to examine our lives.
I enjoy this type of conversation because it gets down to the bone and marrow of the Scriptures. So thanks!
If someone says they have saving faith and there is no good fruit evidenced, then James would say that faith is dead, basically called into question if it is true saving faith. In that I agree with you.,
Where we may disagree or have not established our positions on, is if human works+saving faith=justification. Looking at Paul's epistles and the OT examples he produces, our works do not count for our justification..."lest we should boast." Oh yes indeed there is WORK involved in Justification, but it is Jesus' Work.
Paul goes further in Romans 4 to point this out:
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. 8 “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
Now rightly James says if you have faith show me your works. And this is what I believe James is talking about:
Romans 12: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
So we have to ask the question, within the Scriptural context, "does the horse come before the cart or the cart before the horse?" Do our works (hopefully good enough) justify us before saving faith or after? Does faith in Christ's Work on the Cross and Resurrection need a dash of redleghunter's works for justification? I say no! Christ's Work did it all, He justifies, sanctifies and glorifies.
Now if I, redleghunter produce no fruit and claim I have saving faith, all the epistles tell me to examine my life to see if I had saving faith to begin with.
So a long way to answer your post...Saving faith is active and since the Root is Good, so will the fruit.