Abraham – Friend of God
James 2:14-26
14. What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16. and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17. So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18. But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder. 20. Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22. You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23. and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. 24. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25. And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26. For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.
Romans 4:1-3
1. What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Abraham was considered a “friend of God” before he placed his son on the altar. He was
justified” by his trust in God – faith before works! These scripture are not saying that our good works will not be rewarded. Nor are they saying that we’re not saved by our faith in God. What they are saying is that real faith is demonstrated by an inability NOT to do works!
If I show up at church every time there is a function—mission activity, pot luck, set up chairs and move furniture, teach Sunday school and serve on a committee, attend services every Sunday, and work and work and work for the betterment of the church, it is all meaningless if it is not done as an act of worship! Meaningless! Not that many who serve are not faith-filled and righteous! I’m not saying that at all—neither is James. He is saying that works without faith are worthless.
Further He tells us that faith without works is not genuine. Once we are saved by our faith in God, we cannot help but behave accordingly. Abraham’s faith was active – and his faith was completed by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. His actions (works) were an extension of his genuine, saving faith in God. So neither faith nor works are exclusive of one another! We can do works, but are not saved by them. We may have faith, but if that faith is not demonstrated through works, then we are not saved—because our faith is not genuine. True saving faith is unable to exist in isolation or secret! Through God’s grace, we are saved, and we are compelled to declare our salvation to the world! We are unable to be silent! Out of love, we desire to share our faith with others--so that they may share in our salvation.
Faith. Works. Love. Salvation. Woven together like a tapestry for eternal life.
I hope you spend your day demonstrating your belief in God, that it may be reckoned to you as righteousness.
Mary
