I think sometimes we (I include myself) use accomodative shorthand and we can wind up looking like we're supporting a position 180-degrees in conflict with the word.
You said "by faith only" and James said "not by faith only". My latter paragraphs were an attempt to clarify what I think could be considered a contradiction.
Paul says we're saved by faith - James says we're not justified by works and not by faith only. Unless these two received conflicting inspirations (they didn't), then the faith spoken of by Paul must be different than the "faith only" spoken of by James.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a Calvinist. Nor do I agree with the Mormon position of salvation in Christ "after all we can do" (or something like that). Mormonism is a lot like the Oriental Pagan religions in that regard (and others - see "The God Makers").
I do not agree with the Calvinistic concept of faith being something forced upon an individual and being denied to another. I believe in the "whoever" in John 3:16 and the "all men everywhere" of Acts 17:30. But that's a discussion for another thread. :-)
Thanks for your post. I think you clairified my position, but since I do not always write my thoughts succintly, I appreciate the help.
My main point of that post is, works without faith is dead, just as is faith without works is dead. True faith inspires works, dead faith does not. It is my belief that this is what James was trying to describe. Abraham had the faith to carry out the work of God. If he had not had faith, we would never have obeyed God's command to kill Isaac. The willingness to obey, to sacrifice his own son proved his faith.
When we are in Christ, we desire to, and do his will. But if we do his will in order to garner reward in this life or the one to come, we are denying his Grace. I think we are admonished to do his will because we love him, we have the faith and desire to do what pleases him. I also know that there are a lot of official members of the LDS that do indeed have God approved works and faith.