Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me

 Good morning. You believe that God is one (can be translated – there is one God). You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. Just because someone believes that God exists, does not mean that they are saved. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Can I get an amen? "Just me and Jesus". If that's your attitude, then your faith is useless. Then some words that seem to contradict Paul. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone. Paul of course says that we are justified by faith and not by works. That does not mean that there is a contradiction. There are several possibilities, but I don't have a definitive answer. I'm not like some that feel that they have to have an answer for everything. Abraham was before the law was given, so it cannot be talking about works of the law. Perhaps works is the way that one was justified before Grace came through the cross. Perhaps it was before James got a full understanding of justification. Whatever the reason, we should know that justification is by faith - we can't do anything to earn it. Father thank You that the reader's faith is always in action. He/she will receive what he/she believes.