It amazes me how the meaning of scripture has been twisted. The quote above comes from James 2:21. Let's look at the word for word translation from the Greek.
James 2:21 Abraham the father of us not my works was justified having offered Isaac the son of him upon the alter.
And then the next verse.
James 2:22 you see that his faith was working with the works of him and by his works his faith was completed.
The actions (works) that Abraham took by laying Isaac on that alter was simply the end result of the faith Abraham had. True faith always has the result of acting right or good works. However, it is not the works that justify. It is the true faith which is only exhibited by the works that justifies. Paul states that clearly in Romans 4.
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
And again in Romans 5.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
It's faith that justifies. The works are only a result of proof of that faith.
Good posting. Problem is this is the 5th time the same passages were presented in context with the same out of context responses coming back to us.
That is not what the scripture says. It says, "by his works his faith was completed", and that is followed by faith without works is dead" (James 2:22, 26). We are justified by faith and works. Not by works alone and not by faith alone.