"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

James 2:26 NVI.

We have faith, that's a fact, now it can be in two conditions - alive or dead. There is no middle ground.

What is a dead faith? One that does not produce works, let's illustrate this to make it easier to understand - imagine a person waiting for a miracle or a blessing, the years go by and nothing.

Why didn't this person make it? Her faith is alive to believe in their salvation, but unfortunately, it is dead to believe in what God can do for them.

Good works are not only about what we can receive from God, but also what we can do for Him. Some examples: helping those in need, praying for everyone to come to a full knowledge of the truth and be saved, giving your testimony to provoke faith in others.

'18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[a]? 

21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."

James 2-18:22 NIV.

Faith without works is not rewarded, that is, it does not reach the promises, blessings, miracles, nor the gifts stored for our eternal life in heaven.

You will be saved, you will live in heaven for eternity, but you will not earn any of the extra rewards that God has promised to those who have done good works to glorify His Name on earth.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

Ephesians 2:8,9 NIV.

Don't confuse our works, don't justify us or save us. Faith in Jesus Christ justifies and saves us, only through him do we receive salvation.

Salvation comes through pure faith in the sacrifice God made for us, rewards come through our good works alongside faith.

"And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."

Romans 11:6 NIV

Grace was given to us because of God's mercy, mercy can only be exercised in the case of someone who really does not deserve forgiveness. We don't deserve it, but God loves us anyway and when we believe in the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us, we are reconciled with God.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."

John 1:12,13 NIV.

Salvation comes through pure faith in the sacrifice God made for us by sending his only Son as an atonement for our sins, rewards come through our good works in line with faith.

If grace were warranted by works, then it would not be free, but through merit. I repeat, what saves us is faith in Jesus Christ, we are saved by grace and that is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can get full out themselves.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV.

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 7:21 NIV. 

So how do I explain this passage? Simple going back a few verses earlier to get the context, we were warned about false prophets, they are people who pretend to believe in God and lead others to the path of perdition.

'15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

Matthew 7:15-20 NIV

The text was talking about false prophets who preach a fake gospel, that denies that Jesus is the Son of God and does not follow the instructions of the Bible. 

They deceive themselves and try to deceive others to live in the constant practice of sin. Be careful, don't associate with them.

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!"

Galatians 1:8 NIV.