We do not need to do anything to receive salvation. Christ did it all through His crucifixion on the cross. So what is James trying to say in James 2:26? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. He is not talking about salvation. He is talking about a changed and obedient life. Christ saves us from our imperfect lives and gives us the freedom to not be enslaved by our sin nature. If we do not take advantage of that freedom to act for the benefit of others, then what was the point of salvation? Freedom gives us the ability to choose a life fulfilled and happy through Christ. If we don’t take advantage of it, we are wasting the gift of salvation.