James describes a hypothetical situation where someone objects to his teaching. James seeks to correct his audience's understanding of faith and works. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo]])
James is describing how someone may argue against his teaching and how he would respond. This can be restated to remove the abstract nouns "faith" and "works." Alternate translation: "'It is acceptable that you believe God and that I do what what is good and right.' Prove to me that you can believe God and not do what is good and right, and I will prove to you that I believe God by doing what is good and right" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])