This is one of the most misunderstood Scriptures in the Bible. I'm sure if James had the punctuation, he would have written "believe" in quotes. James wasn't talking about about belief as in saving faith, but as mental assent, which is clear from the context:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19)
To "believe in one God," is simply mental assent, not saving faith.
It's very important that we understand that salvation is by faith, and not by works. It's also not by faith and works. It's by faith which works.
The plan for the salvation of lost mankind is based on man’s acceptance by faith alone of Christ’s substitutionary death....There is not a point that needs to be dwelt upon more earnestly, repeated more frequently, or established more firmly in the minds of all than the impossibility of fallen man meriting anything by his own best good works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. (Faith and Works, p. 14, 19)
Even the name of this compilation could be improved to "Faith which works."
Salvation is by faith alone in Christ, which faith (if saving faith) is manifested by obedience to the law of God.
I'm not sure that James would agree entirely with your explication of his words. I do agree that the kind of "believe" spoken of in 2:19 is that of mental assent. But then you said this:
It's very important that we understand that salvation is by faith, and not by works. It's also not by faith and works. It's by faith which works.
On this point, I disagree. It may be impossible for me to adequately convey my perspective on this point, but I assure you that I do not disagree merely to argue, but that I do have a different understanding on this point which I think perhaps fewer than 1% of our church members would grasp. Nor do I feel it is mandatory to understand ALL of this in order to be saved. A child, with child-like faith, may be saved, as any adult with the same kind of faith may be, apart from a full understanding of how.
We are saved by works (among other things).
Why are we "weighed in the balances?" Of what use would this be if works played no part? Why have an "investigative judgment?" Or perhaps, Tom, you do not believe in this?
Going back to James: notice that he specifically draws our attention in that same chapter to what real faith is.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (James 2:21, KJV)
When did this justification take place according to the text? Was it before or after his deed? Yet, when did he first have faith? Before or after?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (James 2:22, KJV)
Works actually DO something. They
perfect our faith.
Even then, don't get me wrong, these are NOT the works by which we are saved. They are merely the works which justify us, and by which we are judged. In other words, these are the works that fall into the latter point of the statement that says: "We can't get to Heaven by our works, but we won't get there without them."
There are two kinds of works: our works, and God's works. The works by which we are saved our God's. Jesus did for us that which was necessary to free us from the penalty of death. There is no work which we do that is remotely possible of providing us this escape.
But there is another work which we must do in order to demonstrate and to perfect our faith in Christ's works on our behalf. That is the work that James refers to. James and Paul spoke of separate points, while seemingly addressing the same thing. It's difficult to explain the distinction between such closely related points, but just the same, the distinction is there and a very important one.
The work that "saves" us: Christ's perfect life and sacrifice.
The work that accepts this: our work of faith, by which we strengthen and perfect our faith, in obeying God's commandments.
BOTH works are necessary. The work that "saves" us only does so if we accept it--which is why I put it in quotes. God will not save us against our will.
Without obedience, the Bible says, we do not love God nor have faith in Him. Obedience shows our will, our desire. Eve would have shown both love and faith toward God by remaining faithful and restraining herself from going against His commandment. (I do agree with you, Tom, that Eve, prior to sin, did not require salvation. But at no point are faith and love toward God unnecessary, and I think you would agree.)
We may fool ourselves into thinking that we love God and have faith in Him, but our actions will show the truth. If we
really love God, our will will be exercised to do what He asks of us.
Which comes first? Faith. By what are we judged? Works that follow faith, for these
show our faith. The devils may believe God, but do not do His bidding. They are judged not on their "mental assent" but on their "bodily assent." The same is true of us.
True faith can only be defined by actions. Without obedience, James says, there is no faith. Few understand this point adequately, but this part of the issue is critical and salvational. It is not optional to understand this.
Without obedience, we have no faith. Without faith, we do not have Christ's works to stand in place of ours in the judgment. Without Christ's works, we cannot receive His salvation. Without salvation, we are lost.
Blessings,
Green Cochoa.