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James 2:20–23
“You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God” (vv. 22–23).
Faith as a mere mental assent to propositions of truth offers no benefits to us with respect to our relationship to God, but actual saving faith does good for that relationship. Having stated that “faith” as the affirmation of truths about God without corresponding trust in Him makes one no better than a demon (James 2:19), James in today’s passage appeals to the example of Abraham to demonstrate that saving faith puts us in right relation to God.
James uses Abraham’s example in a different manner than Paul does, although the teaching of the two Apostles is fully compatible. When Paul turns to Abraham and to Genesis 15:6 in particular (Abraham “believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness”), he has in mind the timing of God’s granting a righteous legal status to Abraham. Without a doubt, God granted this righteousness to Abraham apart from works, before Abraham performed the good works of the law (Rom. 4:1–12). When James appeals to Abraham and Genesis 15:6, however, he is not thinking of when God granted a righteous legal status to Abraham but of the moment that Abraham especially demonstrated his right relationship to God.
For James, this demonstration of Abraham’s relationship to God occurred when the patriarch showed himself willing to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah (James 2:20–23; see Gen. 22:1–19). Reflecting on this episode, James notes that Abraham’s obedience fulfilled Genesis 15:6. This work to offer up his son even “justified” Abraham (James 2:20–23). Lest we think that Abraham’s faith was lacking before his offering Isaac, that he had to add his good works to his faith to make it effectual to save, note the priority James places on faith. Abraham’s faith was long present and “completed” by works (v. 22). We could also translate this to mean that his works brought his faith to maturity. Abraham trusted the Lord long before he offered up Isaac, and this faith was sufficient to reconcile him to God before that test. Yet this faith, though sufficient to save, had to grow over time. Being tested, it became more steadfast and attained such fortitude that it could even lead Abraham to obey God in offering the greatest sacrifice ever asked of him: his son Isaac.
Faith, of course, is not an end in itself. Its purpose is to restore our relationship with the Lord. It became especially evident that Abraham was friends with God when he obeyed God, and thus the purpose for which faith exists was fulfilled (v. 23).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
John Calvin comments, “[James] intended to show what sort of faith that was which justified Abraham; that is, that it was not idle or evanescent, but rendered him obedient to God.” Very clearly, James does not teach that we are declared righteous by faith and works. Instead, works prove our faith and that we have become friends with God. We cannot claim friendship with God if we do not obey Him.
For further study
- Job 29:4
- James 4:4
The bible in a year
- Exodus 37–38
- Matthew 24:1–35
- Exodus 39–Leviticus 1
- Matt. 24:36–25:30