How do you reconcile James and Paul's teachings on faith and works?
James and Paul do not contradict; they address different perspectives. James views faith from man's viewpoint, where works show that saving faith exists. Paul views salvation from God's viewpoint, where Abraham was saved by faith apart from works, and works cannot put God in debt. God sees faith without works.
Les explains that the apparent conflict is resolved by perspective. James looks at faith from man's point of view: if there are no works, you and I have no idea that a man has saving faith. But God looks at us as He did Abraham and sees faith without works. You do not have to do works to prove to God that you have faith, but to prove to your neighbor that you have faith, you had better show some works. Les says this is plain as day—no controversy, no contradiction, just two totally different events. Paul adds in Romans 4 that reward is not reckoned of grace but of debt, and we are not under a debt economy. We will never put God in our debt, so we cannot work for salvation, not one iota. Verse 5 says to him that worketh not, but believeth on him who justifies the ungodly. Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing because he did not have to show works to anybody; he was dealing with God.