What Does James Mean- Faith Without Works is Dead?

James 2:14-26 King James Version (KJV)
"14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"

Jesus saves the elect. One can become very technical perhaps in soteriological details. Yet the saved, have a different spirit than the worldly. They care about others; to love thy neighbor as oneself, and have a spirit of service so far as they can. Christians will at least be aware of the way others are with concern. Their works differ from those that haven't faith and grace over time They will work to relieve others from suffering, provide saving knowledge sharing the gospel, and feel the calling to be more of a servant unto the will of the Lord God.

It isn't the quantity or quality of works that matter. It is being indwelt with the Holy Spirit. The Lord is good and nothing that occurs does so without a purpose as it fulfills His will for mankind. God is good and mankind has original thermodynamic sin outside the garden. Christians try to help others if possible in the fallen world. The Benefits for others the saved may provide flow from the grace of God. Christians may imperfectly act to work good for-others, yet they have a spirit of caring to work for what is right. That is different than the material spirit of much of mankind. A Christian concerned about the state of society may have quite different objectives than more Machiavellian secularists pursuing personal egoist goals.  There are innumerable ways to work for a better social state of affairs and to help those living find the Lord.

There is no question that millions and millions of unsaved people will work for the benefit of others intentionally. Yet they may offset a substantal part of that effort with other goals- worldly goals- that are inimical to human well-being.

I think that Christians should not look for perfect forms and perfect examples wholistically of works in any human. People all have original sin and are imperfect. They lack omniscience and omnipotence and cannot work their own will to change the world into a utopia within the kingdom of God. They have the opportunity to work this or that if grace provides the cicumstance and if they are willing and able to act. Jesus said that it is better to give than receive.

People often regard economic giving as the most important meaning for works, yet without spiritual regeneration, confering benefits upon the spiritually dead provides nothing more than temporal relief.

Works without faith leave one spiritually dead.