Sola Fide debate

We are not the ones who do the building but it is the spirit. If you interpret it otherwise then you are making scripture contradict scripture.

Really bringeth one to ponder…

I've have to deal with James 2 so many times that I'm tempted to just past my previous responses here. And I probably will. Hold up:

Ok, great start. First of all you have to understand what faith alone means. There is a difference between "Sola" fide and "solo" fide. The difference is outstanding. First of all solo fide leads to antinomianism while Sola fide leads to good works. What do I mean? The meaning behind sola fide is that our faith the the ultimate authority in the sense that our faith, if it is true, leads us to do good works. This is what james means "faith without works is dead." He paul is talking about a "faith" that does not produce good fruits. Again the subject here is Faith and offspinf of this. He is telling us of two different types of faiths.

This point is better convayed by verse 14 where is says "Can that faith save him?" "That faith." The greek word used here is "ὁ πίστις" (Ho pistis). Tthe ho here is in the the definite article, which is used to refer to a particular member of a group or class. Here james is talking about a specific faith here not just anything.

And so a faith without works is not true saving faith whereas a faith with works is true. That is why paul can say what he does in philippians 1:6

Also, when I was about to finish writing this you told me to ignore your first paragraph and I already wrote too much so I carried on.

Here it is

it separates faith from works, when in fact they are both one. to have faith is to be a certain way in the world, that way of being includes keeping commandments and doing good works and having beliefs and praying and hoping, etc.

Where are you coming from on this, if I may ask? Calvinism?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Belief is not a work, but it's necessary for salvation.

I'm a reformed Baptist which are basically Scottish Calvinists.

Who said belief was a work? Faith is a unmerrited gift from God.

Romans 9:15

They are told to believe. You have to admit there's a synergist element there.

But Christ says we are to seek, we are to knock, and when we seek we find, and when we knock he opens the door.
Without free-will, without some voluntary power on our end to connect with God, then there is no test and not moral responsibility. Ezra 1:6 and 7:13 imply man has freewill to make offerings to God. The NT calls us to repent, to hope and believe, if we had no freewill such suggestions would be comical.
It's true that God has a part in stirring faith in us, but we also have a duty to respond or reject

Romans 4:5 King James Version (KJV)

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Titus 3:5 King James Version (KJV)

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version (KJV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

No, not once you understand tota scriptura and the difference between prescriptive and descriptive verses in the bible.