That was just a prominent example to demonstrate his point, along with the OT examples of Abraham sacrificing Isaac and Rehab hiding the two scouts. This debate of "faith vs work" is pointless, you know, faith and work are the two sides of the same coin, you can't have one without the other.
In regards to James reference to Abraham sacrificing Isaac, Abraham named the place Jehovah-Jireh in signifying what that supernatural event was about, as in faith in God will provide. In the same faith Rahab had faith that God will provide for her escape if she helped the 2 Hebrew spies escape. This is what James was rebuking the church for in regards to their abuse and neglect of the poor. You have to start from the beginning of the chapter at
James 2 nd chapter KJV to see James rebuking the church for the abuse and neglect of the poor over rich people by favoritism to see how at the end of church service, the church was sending away the poor sharing their faith to the poor that God will provide for the poor JUST to get out of helping the poor. That is why in the eyes of the poor, the church's faith in God to provide was dead to the poor and will not profit the poor nor save the poor from the elements and starvation seeing how the church was failing to show that faith to the poor by meeting the immediate needs of the poor from the bounty collected at church service.
Paul preached salvation without works on numerous occasions but emphasized discipleship as in running that race to bear fruit as His disciples to gain the incorruptible crown while at the same time avoiding becoming a castaway as disqualified. Paul was given the right hand of fellowship with James and that cannot happen if they were preaching a different gospel.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
That was what James was trying to do in the Book of James to remember the poor and not show favoritism nor neglect the poor when they are in immediate need of help from the elements and starvation. When a church declare their faith in God to provide to the poor, the church better be leading by example or their faith in God to provide is really dead.
If the church was to be judged as not saved for mistreating the poor like that, then James would be preaching the gospel to them, but he wasn't. James was rebuking the church for getting out of helping the poor by just sharing their faith in God to provide to the poor without leading by example.
In the same way, the Church of the Laodiceans being complacent and idle, or even when a pastor that is being provided a 401 K pension plan, a home to live in while ministering, a salary and expenses paid like going out to eat, and he rails from the pulpit that members are stealing from God by not tithing nor keeping up with their giving, then that pastor's faith in God to provide by raising up cheerful givers is dead.
Yet God addressed the church in Revelation as His church and not as if they are unsaved because of their works or lack thereof.
Here are some of Paul's writings how faith in Jesus Christ is without works with a reference to Abraham for how it was counted unto him for righteousness for believing God.
Romans 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Again, another reference...
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
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;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Paul did go one to say what value works does have and that it is profitable unto men, not for proof of salvation.
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Ephesians 2:8 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.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
It is important to run that race in being fruitful as His disciples to obtain the incorruptible crown so as to avoid being a castaway as in left behind for not abiding in Him & His words but in iniquity.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?
So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.
Although left behind for failing to run that race by faith in Jesus Christ as saved believers going on to perfection, if any run that race to obtain salvation, then they do so in unbelief and denying Him as their Saviour when they are saved.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
As it is, those in unrepentant iniquity are still saved for why they are left behind as vessels unto dishonor but still in His House, to be resurrected after the great tribulation as vessels of wood & earth to serve the King of kings on earth.
