His faith was perfected and matured, just as an apple tree is fully mature when it produces apples. The trials in our lives become the tests that God uses to display the fruit of true faith. His act of obedience sprang from his root of faith. He was first justified by his faith and later justified by his works . James taught both truths.
True faith works.
Works must always be distinguished from faith, but they must never be separated from faith. Rahab, the well-known heroine of Joshua's day, is another clear demonstration of a fruitful faith. One might wonder why James would choose such a woman of shame, when there were many other examples of living faith in the Old Testament. She was a Canaanite. Yet God promised Rahab deliverance by His grace and through her faith.