Does James teach a works salvation? No…allow me to explain…

Grace (unmerited favor unattainable by human effort) through faith (believing-trusting) that Jesus Christ is Lord who suffered and died to pay your sin-debt is the KEY to initiating covenant relationship with the Father and receiving the Holy Spirit as Guarantor of that relationship (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1:13-14; John 3:16-18). No man or woman is saved by their works of self-righteousness and this was demonstrated as early as Genesis 3:21 as Adam sought to cover his sin and shame with fig-leaves that were rejected by Elohim who subsequently covered Adam and Eve in an imputed robe of righteousness (animal skins) Himself through the shedding of innocent blood. In fact, on your best day your works of righteousness are a filthy, bloody, menstrual cloth in the nose of God (Isaiah 64:6).

Not until such time that you have initiated covenant relationship with the Father through faith in Jesus as Lord, alone, will your works of obedience, righteousness, be accounted to you as justification as it is your works of righteousness done through the indwelling Holy Spirit that validate your faith as legitimate saving faith…you are a new person with new goals and aspirations in Jesus and good works naturally flow through sanctification. But…those works can never supplant or replace the necessity for faith in Jesus, FIRST.