This whole discussion on justification is relatively simple and straightforward. As I've stated more than once, "faith alone" is almost always short for justification (being declared righteous) by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Faith alone is opposed to faith and works for justification. I haven't seen or heard of anyone say that "faith alone" means that we never, ever have to do works after being justified, which seems to be the common straw man in this thread, beginning with the OP.
Paul unequivocally states many times that we are justified by grace through faith as a gift from God. To be justified in this sense is to be declared righteous, to have Christ's righteousness imputed to us freely as gift to be appropriated by faith, which is also a gift from God, a work of the Holy Spirit. Justification (being declared righteous) is the initial moment of salvation, hence why Paul says "For by grace you have been saved through faith" (Eph. 2:8).
James's use of "justified" is simply that of "evidence." This is how it is most often used these days. James's argument is that good works are proof of one's salvation, both to oneself and before others. What James is not saying is that good works plus faith save us. If a person professes to be a follower of Christ, if they profess to have faith, but doesn't do good works and doesn't think they are necessary, then they do not actually have faith at all. Their "faith" is false and dead.
You said.....
" I haven't seen or heard of anyone say that "faith alone" means that we never, ever have to do works after being justified, which seems to be the common straw man in this thread, beginning with the OP."
Actually, I have said exactly that several times now. Since you missed it I will say it again........
"We are saved by Faith Alone through the grace of God", and NO works are required to be saved/justified.!
That is exactly what God said in Ephesians 2:8-9. Now.. James says in 2:24 that ........
"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
That simply means that those who truly trust in God naturally end up participating in good works.
As James showed in prior verses, no one can be saved by good works.
Works are not required for salvation—they are a "symptom" of saving faith.
In verse 22, he used the Greek word
eteleiōthē to explain and demand that good works as the "completion," or the natural end result, of saving faith.
On purely a personal observation, I have always been perplexed by those (Some here on this site) people who use James 2:24 to somehow validate that we are saved by works or that works must be added to what Jesus did for us.
For this discussion I think it should be noted there are two things to be remembered.
#1. James is not claiming works are required for salvation. His entire argument has been about
what kind of faith actually saves. He is on the attack against the attitude that one can be saved by a faith that has no works. He has stated repeatedly that such a faith is dead, useless. He is not saying that faith is not the "sole" means through which we receive God's grace; he is saying that a so-called-"faith" which results in no actions is not a genuine faith. A "works-less" faith cannot justify anyone.
#2. James has been consistent in upholding faith as necessary for salvation. This includes his quote in verse 23 that Abraham was counted as righteous for believing God.
As I know you are aware, Context is the key to all Bible study, and especially for resolving apparent contradictions. In Paul's writings, it is clear he is describing "justification" in the sense of salvation: being declared righteous by God. James, according to this context, is referring to "justification" in the sense of proof for human beings.
Faith saves, says James, but "saving faith" cannot be a mere intellectual opinion, which produces no resulting actions.
