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.

 

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."-Galatians 2:16 KJV

 

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.

 

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."-Galatians 2:20 KJV

 

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.

 

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying's, murders, drunkenness, retellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."-Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

 

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.

 

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."-Philippians 2:13 KJV

 

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,

 

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?"-James 2:21 KJV

 

To show he had a genuine faith.