2 Kings 4.40
So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.
Lord, please have mercy on the Christians who are trying to get through the 'swelling words' (2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1.16) that the make the cross of none effect (Matt 15.6, 1 Cor 1.17) and deny the Lord that bought them (2 Peter 2.1) thinking its the right thing to do. When its the normal, average person (not hindered by seminary education or self exaltation - Luke 11.43, James 2.1, Gen 3.5) who Christ rejoices in shaming the scholars with Bible believing truth. (Luke 10.21, Amos 7.14) Which must be rightly divided, as per your commandment (2 Tim 2.15) and as you did yourself when here on Earth (Luke 4.17-20, Isa 61.2)
Amen.
Lets start by having a gander at the 'pot'...
James 2 Verses 14-26
In this latter part of the chapter, the apostle shows the error of those who rested in a bare profession of the Christian faith, as if that would save them, while the temper of their minds and the tenour of their lives were altogether disagreeable to that holy religion which they professed. To let them see, therefore, what a wretched foundation they built their hopes upon, it is here proved at large that a man is justified, not by faith only, but by works.
James 2
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Here is the summing up: a breathless carcass and a worthless faith are alike useless as unto all the ends of natural and spiritual life. Thus the Apostle has conclusively shown the worthlessness of the garb of orthodoxy when worn by lifeless professors. He has fully exposed the error of those who rest in a bare profession of the Gospel—as if that could save them, when the temper of their minds and the tenor of their lives was diametrically opposed to the holy religion they professed. A holy heart and an obedient walk are the scriptural evidence of our having been justified by God.
James 2.15-17 & 20
15 If a brother, or, For if a brother. He takes an example from what was connected with his subject; for he had been exhorting them to exercise the duties of love. If any one, on the contrary, boasted that he was satisfied with faith without works, he compares this shadowy faith to the saying of one who bids a famished man to be filled without supplying him with the food of which he is destitute. As, then, he who sends away a poor man with words, and offers him no help, treats him with mockery, so they who devise for themselves faith without works, and without any of the duties of religion, trifle with God. [114]
17 Is dead, being alone. He says that faith is dead, being by itself, that is, when destitute of good works. We hence conclude that it is indeed no faith, for when dead, it does not properly retain the name. The Sophists plead this expression and say, that some sort of faith is found by itself; but this frivolous caviling is easily refuted; for it is sufficiently evident that the Apostle reasons from what is impossible, as Paul calls an angel anathema, if he attempted to subvert the gospel. (Galatians 1:8.)
20 But wilt thou know. We must understand the state of the question, for the dispute here is not respecting the cause of justification, but only what avails a profession of faith without works, and what opinion we are to form of it. Absurdly then do they act who strive to prove by this passage that man is justified by works, because James meant no such thing, for the proofs which he subjoins refer to this declaration, that no faith, or only a dead faith, is without works. No one will ever understand what is said, nor judge wisely of words, except he who keeps in view the design of the writer.
Footnotes:
[114] This is adduced as an illustration: as the saying of a man to the naked, "Be ye clothed," when he does nothing, effects no good, is wholly useless, so is that faith that produces no works; it being as it were dead, it cannot save.
Lets take a step back from the 'pot' and give clean air a good, welcome sniff. (Psalm 119.9)
James 2.14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
In the context the answer is no. The context is in the Tribulation period (after the rapture of the church, WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED YET!) where it is faith and works that save. (Matt 10.22, Rev 20.4) Just like Hebrews 11. That whole chapter is characters that were justified by their works in the OT. The mosaic law returns in the tribulation and extends through the millennium (Zach 14.16-19, Heb 10.1)
James 2.21
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. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Yet compare that with Gal 2.16.
The Jew (Abraham) and gentile (Rahab) will be JUSTIFIED the same way in the tribulation period. They are described in Rev 14.12 and there is those 'SAVED' people are at the great white throne (Dan 7.10, Rev 20.12)
Why is there the 'book of life' open there if its only unsaved people are turning up as is commonly taught?
However we right now, in the church age are justified the moment we get saved
Romans 3:24 & 28, 5.1 & 9, 8.30, 1 Cor 6.11
(That's realizing your a helpless sinner and then accepting Christs sacrifice PERSONALLY for your sins, not by being baptized or attending the 'right church'!!)
EDIT 10/6/21 -
As its always good for a bit of comedy lets have a look at what the 'great, godly work of complete magnificence' has to say, the one and only...
The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible
James
2:21 justified by works. The word justified here does not mean “declared righteous by God the Judge”(Deut. 25:1; Rom. 3:26), but “demonstrated to be righteous” (Luke 10:29; Rom. 3:4). offered Isaac. God commanded this sacrifice to test Abraham but stopped him before he killed his son (Gen. 22).
2:24 not by faith only. James was not disagreeing with Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith (Rom.3:23–26; Gal. 2:16), but was using his terms differently. Paul spoke of true, saving faith, but James of a mere profession of faith. Paul spoke about being counted righteous before God, but James of faith proving itself true before others by the works that follow upon true faith.
The ' faith proving itself true before others' of course the P of TULIP, the great doctrine for
fruit inspectors to keep checking if you're 'elect' or not, based mainly on adhering to church attendance and donations.
Kyle F. Stephens seminal work 'Building Thereupon - How Sound Faith and Good Doctrine are Properly Laid' is a beautiful yet terrible read on how the 'perseverance of the saints' is nothing more than a terrible return to bondage and misery, yet piously disguised as 'eternal security'.
James 2 is the chapter God included in his word (despite writing James 1.1!) to judge those that wont rightly divide and look for an avenue to purport such bondage on others. (Gal 3.1, Ecc 5.13)