Why don't we ask the Bible... you do go by Sola Scriptura, don't you?
James 2:24 (KJV) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He did NOT yell down: "READ MY BOOK!"
Our Lord did NOT leave us a book; He left us TWELVE MEN, with Peter as the Rock, the Shepherd of the flock of Jesus' foundling Church. Thus we have the Apostolic Tradition and the Magesterium (all the bishops and the Bishop of Rome--the pope).
Peter's successors have been around in an unbroken line since then. Their names are engraved in granite in the Bascilica of St. Peter. The four names NOT there are the four popes who chose to serve out their papacy in Avignon. They were duly and correctly elected but did not serve in Rome.
Unbroken line of Peter's successors...what else to expect from what Jesus founded?
How about let’s use the whole passage and not take a verse out of context.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
It’s the faith that saves but the works produced by that faith are what proves what type of faith it is. If that were not so you would have to believe that Paul in the following passages was lying.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:24)
Rom. 3:28-30, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one."
Rom. 4:5, "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,"
Rom. 5:1, "therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Do you believe Paul was lying?