A lot of people who read James, misunderstand his attitude toward works. Martin Luther called it a book of Straw and Hay, and said it did not belong in the Bible.
James was writing to a Hebrew audience, who would have understood his term of works, better than Paul’s term of fruits. But in all actuality it was the same. When James sited Abraham’s obedience to Gods request, he pointed out Abraham justified his faith through obedience. Which was a work of the spirit in Abraham's life, he was convinced God would raise Isaac up from the ashes of the fire, if necessary. This cannot be viewed as anything, but one of the fruits of the Spirit “Faith”.
So James stated where is your faith without works (Fruit). I will show you my faith by my works (fruits). So a man who says he has faith, but has no fruit (works) produced by that kind of faith, it is a dead faith.
We are a new creation in Christ, not to do good works, but to walk in them.
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