James 2:14–26 says that true saving faith is a living faith, and the believer does good works in the power of the Holy Spirit and cannot stop doing good works. Pastor Paul van Engelenhoven contrasts the dead faith of pretenders that is fruitless versus the living faith of believers that bears fruit, and he explains the metaphor for true faith. “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 24, Q & A 64