Life performs Law

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:4 KJV)

The life of the Spirit within will fulfil the righteous requirements of the Law. The issue is not the Law. The Law is good, righteous. The issue is how we fulfil the Law. God's way is to commune with Him, blend our hearts with His, be nurtured by His grace, enjoy His Fatherhood.

The life of God is inherently, intrinsically, completely good. Anything else is not. It is only a sham. God is looking for His own life within us.

When James asks us to look at our lives, he mentions virtues garnered form the Law, see James Ch 2. Favouritism, judging and bearing grudges and lack of compassion and justice are all condemned by the Law, see Lev 19 esp. v15,18. There are many similarities between James Ch2 and Lev Ch19, similarities in the types of behaviour commended in each book.

Leviticus Ch 19 is from the Pentateuch, the OT books of the Law. James, of course, is from the NT, the Covenant of Faith.

God is not a God of lawlessness. The NT condemns lawlesness. Sharing in the life of God, the life of the Spirit, results in the righteous requirements of the Law being fulfilled. It is not that we strive to keep the Law. What we need to do is pursue intimacy with God. If we do, the righteous requirements of the Law will be fulfilled in us with ever increasing fidelity to the heart of God.

James is not revoking righteousness by faith or suggesting an alternative. He is asking us to realistically assess whether our faith, our fellowship with God, is alive and well. If it is, it will be bearing fruit. Our lives will be fulfilling the righteous requirements of the Law.

James is turning Romans 8v4 back on itself. If your faith is real and you are indeed walking in the Spirit, you will be seeing the righteous requirements of the Law met in your life.

If you are not, don't strive to keep the Law to earn God's favour and life. Come to Him and seek Him for answers, and for more of His life. Confess your sins and shortcomings to Him. Receive forgiveness. Ask Him for what you need. Agree with him that you need help to produce the fruit He desires in your life.