Are we saved by works?

In short, no.

James is considered to be a slightly controversial epistle because some people interpret the second part of chapter 2 as a proposition of salvation by works. It isn't, it is just a different approach from Paul. Ephesians 2.8-9 says that we are saved by GRACE, through FAITH, for GOOD WORKS, and this is the summary of all the New Testament preaches on the subject of salvation. James, in saying that faith without works is dead, means exactly that, a result of our faith in Jesus is that we will want to do his will. In other words, faith leads to action. A faith without good works is not really a faith because you are not responding to the full impact of what God has done for you. It is lazy and selfish.

Our works will never save us; our salvation was won for us when Jesus took our rubbish upon himself on the cross, thus allowing us to die to our old life and rise to live a new life (2 Cor 5.17) dedicated to him. We simply believe in his death and resurrection on our behalf and trust that he will bring us through death to live with him eternally. But, and it's a fairly big but, the way we SHOW that we have undergone this change is by living in a new way; going out of our way to look after those who may be marginalised by society, not judging people or showing favouritism and watching what we say and the language we use. Christians should stand out from the crowd, and not just because they wear socks and sandals or because they have a fish on the back of their car; you should stand out at school or college because you talk to the new kid, be friendly to everyone and stick up for your less popular classmates, not to mention that your friends should notice that you do not swear or join in with the classroom gossip. Let us start making our communities better places by putting our faith into action.