Without the Shedding of Blood There is No Remission of Sin

[Lek]

How then does one identify the fruits of salvation as opposed to just good works? I sort of remember Jesus saying in the Gospels that you shall know them by their fruits.

What he is saying that you will be able to separate the ones who just claim to have faith from the ones who really do have faith by their works.  If someone claims to faith, but has no good works then they are lying.

Tell Christians to read those passages. I should not have to read the Bible to see how Christians act. I read their lives and tell it like it is.

Then don't make statements about your interpretation of christian doctrine contained in the bible if you don't want to read what's there.

Then you totally disagree with Paul.

But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Now you decide to read the bible when you think it backs up what you say.  Paul is speaking the truth in that our works can't save us.  We are only saved by our faith in Christ.  Paul is making the distinction between what saves us and what doesn't.  James is saying that if we have faith, we will do good works because faith produces good works.  He's not saying that the works are what save us.  It's still our faith that makes us righteous.  

Romans 6:15-16New Living Translation (NLT)

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.

Yes, I've been told to read Paul in light of James. All that means in practice is ignore Paul. Read the part about having faith and ignore the part about without works.

Yes.  To understand the message of the bible you must take it as a whole.  You shouldn't ignore any passages, including James.