Justified–by Faith or Works?

“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)16 Yet we know that a person is made right(Justified) with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be (Justified) made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be (Justified) made right with God by obeying the law."

Some have argued that James contradicts Paul at this point, since James emphasized that both Abraham and Rahab, among others, were justified by works

(James 2:21, 25)21 Don't you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.

In fact, this seeming conflict between Paul and James has often been cited as one of the “contradictions” of the Bible.

There is no contradiction, however. Neither Abraham nor Rahab could have been justified by the “works of the law,” and James never said they were. Abraham lived before God even gave the law to Moses, and Rahab lived in a pagan culture which knew nothing about it. Furthermore, James himself knew that no one could really be saved by the law, for he said that

(James 2:10). 10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws.

Actually, both Abraham and Rahab were “justified”–which means “seen as righteous”–by faith in God and His provision of salvation note;

James 2:23And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."[a] He was even called the friend of God

Hebrews 11:31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

The righteousness of Christ, who did keep perfectly the law of God, is imputed to believers by faith as we see in;

(Romans 4:3-5). 3 For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." 4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

God sees him or her as “in Christ,” and so they are justified (recognized as righteous) solely through faith.

However, other men cannot see our faith, and therefore we must be justified in the sight of men by our works. True saving faith inevitably will manifest itself in works of righteousness. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: . . . For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8, 10). 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.