When James writes "faith without works is dead," he is saying that works which proceed from faith find favor in God's sight.
But works without faith do not find favor in God's sight because no one can work her or his way to salvation. Paul writes that all of our righteousness is "filthy rags" and worthless. He also says salvation is by faith, not works "lest any man should boast."
So, a genuinely saved person loves God so much that that person desires to do good unto others as a demonstration and expression of God's love towards them and in gratitude to God for their own salvation.
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