Works ( Matthew 7 v 21 v 23 )

  The Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox ,believe that we not saved by faith alone,but by faith and works.But this would contradict what we read in so many places in the  Bible,they both stress what James wrote in his epistle, which appears to support their views. There is an old hymn with the following words, 'What can wash away my stain?,nothing but the blood of Jesus',The thief on the cross was saved without works,by simply believing in Christ,he went straight to heaven,( Luke 23 v 42 - 43.).So what can we say about the teaching of James,in that he says that works and faith justify us.In v 18 of chap 2, we have these words,'Show me your faith',in other words ,prove to me you have faith,manifest the reality of your faith,as Abraham and Rahab did.Jesus said by our fruits we are known, John says ,'So how can we tell who are children of God and who are the children of the devil. Anyone who does not live  righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God'( 1 Jn 3 v 10 ).The English Standard Version, puts it like this,'It is evident',in other  words these are proof ,that we have been forgiven. . Luther said ,''We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone''.