[kosciusko51]

The Matthew 7 passage shows that works without faith will not save you. These are people relying on their works, not their faith.

As for James 2, the questions is do works follow faith, or is it faith + works? c.f. Ephesians 2:8-10. James and Paul are not in opposition, rather they stand back-to-back to antinomians and legalists.

[kosciusko51]

Forgot to ping you.

[metmom]

Luke 18:9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

John 6:29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

[ravenwolf]

These are people relying on their works, not their faith.

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These people are trying to show what great faith they have to make themselves great in the eyes of others,
Jesus saw them as phonies.

And you are right, James and Paul had no disagreement as Paul was talking about the works of the law and James was talking about the works of faith, however Paul is hard for most people to understand.