For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?

Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!