I want to try to show you that James is not contradicting Paul here but teaching something compatible with Paul's teaching and correcting a misuse of Paul's teaching. Their condemnation is just. Now Paul has answers to this kind of superficial distortion and abuse of his teaching. He has answers in virtually all his letters to show how good works and love necessarily flow from real justifying faith. So we have a wonderful freedom from the commandments of God as a means of justification.
Faith Works through Love No.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Notice very carefully what he says. He says that what counts with God is the kind of faith that by its nature produces love. But it is faith that gives us our right standing with God. The love that comes from it only shows that it is, in fact, real living, justifying faith.