James 2 Part 6: Luther's Contention (Justified by Works)

This is truly a Beautiful portion of scripture, and it is in harmony with the whole revelation of God. We need only to better understand the questions being answered and the context with which they are presented.
• If a man "say". Context determines meaning. Here the idea of faith is presented as a mere verbal profession. This verbal profession of faith is only "authenticated" by the Acts of Faith that evidence it. "Profession without works is not faith" (Who's says you believe?) The use of the word faith in Romans by Paul, assumes that faith… is faith. It is verified as such by scripture. James challenges an individual's claim as one verbally suggesting their faith, but whether it is truly faith or not remains to be seen.
• Faith is evidential, Faith with corresponding works, or visible "Acts of Faith" is normal, expected, complete and identifies a "whole", (or full and substantial ) profession of Faith. It's a real faith.
• Mental assent is different than saving faith. Since Faith, by nature, has a visible quality to it, then that means if we find a profession of faith that is absent it's corresponding visibility and evidentiality, then we have found a "faith" that is neither complete nor proving of substance. It is not whole, it is not itself, it doesn't carry it's normal weight and behavior, like a gold coin paid to a merchant, it gets put on the scale and doesn't carry normal weight, it's examined more closely and is without it's normal luster, he bites it and sees it doesn't feel the same, it doesn't act the same, and it's then the merchant knows it is not real gold, therefore it is has no value. In this way true faith is proved by it's character, otherwise it is