There is no merit in faith alone. It is not mere faith that saves,
but faith in Christ. Faith in any other saviour but Christ will
not save. Faith in any other gospel than that of the New Testament
will not save (Gal. 1:8, 9).
There is no contradiction between Paul and James touching the
matter of faith and works (cf. James 2:14-26; Rom. 4:1-12). Paul
is looking at the matter from the Godward side, and asserts that we
are justified, in the sight of God, _meritoriously_, without
absolutely any works on our part. James considers the matter from
the manward side, and asserts that we are justified, in the sight
of man, _evidentially_, by works, and not by faith alone
(2:24). In James it is not the _ground_ of justification, as
in Paul, but the _demonstration_. See under Justification,
II. 4, p. 159.