I don't set a lot of value in arguments based on grammar since the grammar of the ancient Koine Greek and that of modern, American English differ so much. The conclusions reached by such efforts invariably focus on a set of "proof-texts" and require that many passages of scripture be totally ignored.
The point I have constantly made is that every believer will be judged by his works.
James challenged the church to show their faith without works and said he would demonstrate his faith BY his works.
The evidence of our faith is our works. They don't just happen automatically; we have to choose to do them and, to a greater or lesser degree, doing them requires that we exert effort, that is, we "work" at it. The church has been infiltrated by Gnostic-sounding, antinomian (Lit., “against the law”) teachers, who teach that faith saves apart from repentance, works or virtue. That is a false teaching.
Scripture explicitly states that we will be judged by our good works and that those who have no good works will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
See: Mat 25:31-46; Jhn 3:36; 5:28-29; 8:51; Ro 6:2-10; 8:12-14; 2Cor 5:10; 1 Pet 1:17; 1 John 2:17; Rev 20:12-13; 22:12 -14
iakov the fool