See the definition of the Greek word dikaioō translated to “justified”.
1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
Now if James we’re teaching that we are rendered, declared, or pronounced righteous by our works then he would be directly contradicting Paul in Romans 4.
“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:”
Romans 4:2-6 NASB1995
Notice what James says in verse
“But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.””
James 2:18 NASB1995
James is saying that a person is shown to be righteous by his works not that he is rendered or pronounced righteous by his works otherwise he is contradicting both Paul and David.
