James 2:22-24 {Jas 22} Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? {23} And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. {24} Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
One passage, two apostles:
Paul and James both used Gen 15:6 for their defense of faith without works and faith with works. Both deal with justification and both are in agreement with each other, but on the surface they appear to be opposite. James appeals to Abraham’s willingness and actions in offering his son, Isaac, to God. Although the one passage is removed from each other by several chapters and a number of years, yet they go together in showing works and faith.
Paul uses Gen 15:6 in Gal 3:6 and Ro4:22 to show that we are not justified by works. Paul says that it is only through faith that we are justified before God (Ro 5:1). Were James and Paul at odds in their teachings?
Scripture fulfilled:
James speaks of Scripture being fulfilled (James 2:23) by Abraham’s works. When you think of Scripture being fulfilled, you think of prophecy – something being told before it happened and then later the thing prophesied occurs. James is saying that the Gen 15:6 passage was a prophecy of his faith in God and the fulfillment was realized in Gen 22 (Jam 2:21) when he went to offer Isaac to God in obedience to God’s command. Abraham obeyed God because he first believed God. This is the obedience of faith. What was it that he believed? Hebrews tells us that he believed God’s promise of an heir that would fulfill God’s promise to him, even if God had to resurrect Isaac (Heb 11:17-19). Abraham believed God when He first told him of Isaac and that belief brought him to complete obedience later. James goes on to cite the example of Rehab and what her faith did in hiding, protecting and helping the spies when they came to Jericho. James tells us that true faith produces works and the works are those of obedience to God. James says we cannot simply say we believe and therefore we are justified, but that faith that truly believes God to the saving of our souls also brings about a change in our entire being and part of that is obedience – works that show our faith.
Faith without works:
When Paul uses the Gen 15:6 passage he does so to show those to whom he is writing that justification comes from our faith, belief in Christ as our Sacrifice for our sin. He was trying to show that we cannot get right with God by keeping the law – particularly Paul was addressing circumcision and other outward aspects of God’s covenant law. In Ro 4:10 he shows that Abraham was uncircumcised when he counted righteous by God. After Abraham believed God and was counted righteous, God gave him the sign of circumcision as a right of being in covenant relationship with God. Just as Christians have the right to take communion as a sign of our justified state, not that we are justified by taking communion. Many today do as those in Paul’s day and try to be justified by doing what Christians do because they are justified and are simply obeying God. Our salvation is by grace thru faith, but works will follow.