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Paul and James were speaking of two different periods in Abraham's life. Paul was referring to Gen. 15 and James years later to Gen. 22. Paul was NOT saying that we are saved liked Abraham was. He was just using Abraham as an example to show that he was justified before the law ever existed.

Romans 4 16] Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
[17] (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
[18] Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
[19] And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
[20] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
[21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
[22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification

Notcie that Abraham was also justified AGAIN in Gen. 17! Three different times are given in Abraham's life. BUT ONLY ONE PERIOD IN THE CHRISTIAN'S LIFE.

Romans 4 [24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

At the initial faith in the gospel. No proving it with works later.

Abraham hadn't the slightest clue about being born again; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the church, or salvation as we know it today.

This is the gospel Abraham believed in order to be saved.

Gal. 3:8- And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

The gospel Abraham had to believed was "In thee shall all nations be blessed." That's it! And he had to keep that faith and prove with works like he did in Gen. 22. (How could all nations be blessed in him if he has to sacrifice Issac?) WE DON'T! Christ did the works already for us. We are saved by "the faith of Christ" not by our works being perfected by our faith like it says in James 2.

Notice the papists never finish the passage in James 2?

James 2:25- Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Nothing about believed on the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ there. You're a deluded fool if you think there was. Rahab was still considered a harlot when she hid the messengers. You're on dangerous ground when you start to use James 2 as salvation doctrine for this age.

James is giving , at the least, an EXAMPLE (not hard doctrine of salvation) of real faith and , at the most, he's referring to tribulation salvation.

Wil