Nope. Justified by works does not mean saved by works.
Not true. The word "justified by works" in James 2:24 is referring to salvation. In James 2:24, James refers to being justified by faith. First, in other parts of the Bible, we know that being justified by faith is dealing with salvation.
"Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
We can even see how one's works or performance directly relates to one's salvation or entrance into God's kingdom.
"His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:23).
"And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30).
Second, the context in James is also dealing with salvation, as well.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." (James 1:12).
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21).
"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (James 1:26). This confirms the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:37.
"There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you." (James 2:13) (NLT).
Note: James 2:13 is said in light of the brethren James was writing to in their wrongfully having respect of persons. They were giving favor to the rich brethren and they were not showing any favor to the poor brethren. This was a violation of loving your neighbor. By their doing so, they were breaking all of God's laws as a result. Jesus agrees with the lawyer on the truth that we are to love God and love our neighbor as a part of inheriting eternal life (Luke 10:25-28). John says to hate your brother is the equivalent of being a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life abiding in them (1 John 3:15). 1 John 3:10 says, "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." So the Bible warns us in multiple ways that you cannot refuse to love your brother or neighbor and also possess eternal life.
Here is a little more context.
A faith without works is a dead kind of faith (James 2:17).
A dead faith cannot access the saving grace of God.
For without faith, it is impossible to please God (See: Hebrews 11:6).
James says he will show you his faith by his works (James 2:18).
So this means that works are a part of faith. You cannot separate the two (like you are attempting to do). James says in James 2:19 that a belief alone is like that of the faith of demons. So a belief alone is bad and not good. James 2:24 says that we are justified by works and faith. You cannot be justified by faith in men. But you can only be justified by faith in God. So this means that we are justified by works before God and not men. Justified means to be declared righteous.
You said:
God is said to have been justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads, “acknowledged that God's way was right.” The ESV reads, "they declared God just.." This is the "sense" in which God was “justified.” He was shown to be righteous.
Right, the Bible has homonyms within it. In this instance, this interpretation works because it fits the context. But your change on James 2:24 is forced and unnatural and it does not fit the context at all. You have to also change and or ignore:
#1. "being justified by faith" in James 2:24.
#2. James 1:12.
#3. James 1:22.
#4. James 1:26.
#5. James 2:13 (and it's context in light of the rest of the Bible).
Again, if your belief was even remotely true, then Matthew 7:23 would read like this:
"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that did not trust in my finished work at the cross and who cared more about living holy for me."
(Matthew 7:23 OSAS Version).
But the Bible actually says,
"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
(Matthew 7:23).
This shows that their actions (iniquity or sin) was the REASON WHY they were told to depart from Jesus. Jesus did not know them because they worked iniquity or sin. John says that a person can have an assurance in knowing the Lord if they find that they are keeping His commandments (1 John 2:3). The person who says they know the Lord and they do not keep His commandments, they are a liar and the truth is not in them. So knowing the Lord is based on whether you kept his commandments. 1 John 3:4 says that the breaking of the Law (i.e. the command) is sin. So the believers in Matthew 7:23 did not make it because they did not keep God's laws or commands (i.e. they did not believe doing good works was essential to salvation).
You said:
Unlike your position, my position is in perfect harmony. Works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of saving faith in Christ, but not the essence of faith and not the means of obtaining or maintaining salvation. Man is saved apart from the merit of works, yet authentic faith is not apart from the presence of works. This does not mean that works play a part in salvation as if Jesus needs our works to help Him save us in part. Christ’s finished work of redemption is sufficient and complete to save believers. No supplements needed.
Yet, you do not believe Christ's finished work is sufficient to save if you believe works MUST be a by-product of showing a true saved genuine faith. If works did not save and yet they were a by-product of salvation, then they would need to be there as showing that one is truly saved (Meaning: Works do play a part in salvation in some way). This is why your belief is a contradiction. You simply cannot see it.
You said:
Romans 3:24-28 is dealing with Initial Salvation and or Ultimate Salvation (i.e. the Justification Process). It is not referring to Sanctification (Which comes after Justification). Romans 3:24 is dealing with how we are not saved by "Works Alone" or "Law Alone" without God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is why Paul says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Nobody can be saved on their own merits alone without God's grace through faith in Christ first.
My guess is that you probably believe that Romans 3 is also dealing with the ongoing present tense walk of the believer and you do not believe it is referring to the entrance gate of salvation or in how we are ultimately saved. I say this because you most likely believe that Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23 is in reference to even the present tense walk of the believer. Meaning, that believers in their present tense walk sin and they fall short of the glory of God, and hence, why you believe they always need a Savior, etc. But if this is the case, then you must also apply Romans 3:11 to the present tense walk of the believer, too. Romans 3:11 says this:
"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." (Romans 3:11).
So if you believe that a Christian will always sin every day or week, or month or whatever, as per Romans 3:10, and or Romans 3:23, then you must also believe that a Christian has no understanding and that they do not seek after God, either. In other words, Romans 3:10, and Romans 3:23 are referring to how everyone had sinned at one point in their lives. It is not referring to the present tense walk of believers. It is referring to those who need God's grace (i.e. the entrance gate to salvation).