Not Justified By Works, Justified By Works? (Galatians 2:16/James 2:21)
Paul says were not justified by works, James says we are?
The first time Paul he uses this expression he's talking about works of the law.
He continues all the way through Galatians about the law of the Old Testament, circumcision), then says but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Which he says in verse 20 I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.
We know the Spirit of Christ by His gospel, and He also goes on to note those who will not enter into the kingdom of God.
He would seem to be contradicting himself if he was saying faith alone, which was never used.
The only place faith alone is used, it is condemned
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."-James 2:17 KJV.
Though Paul was talking about the Old Testament(circumcision), it looks as if Paul was talking about works alone, and James vice versa-faith alone. Though this doesn't mean we justify ourselves, because it's God that works in us and it's only by faith it works in us.
Paul uses
"Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."-Galatians 3:6 KJV
This shows Abraham wasn't under the law (Old Testament) yet was still justified, and James uses Abraham also in his first verse of justification by works,
To show he had a genuine faith.