At first sight this verse seems to be in direct opposition to Romans 4:2, 3 and Galatians 3:6. Yet, they are not contradictory; in fact, both being the Word of God, they cannot be. Paul insists that Abraham was justified by believing God, while James infers that Abraham's works were what justified him. Before going into this, we should consider a few things about Abraham personally.

Abraham highly venerated: Abraham, the father of the nation, was highly venerated by the Jewish people. They prided themselves that they were his children. They were sure it gave them great advantages and privileges with the Lord, and up to a certain point this was true. "What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there in circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:1, 2). In spite of this, Paul concludes they were under sin as was the Gentiles (Rom. 3:9-20).

Abraham's children: Many of the Jews believed that being Abraham's children was all that was needed to make them right with God. John the Baptizer had to contend with this, as we see in Matthew 3:9, "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of those stones to raise up children unto Abraham." The Lord Jesus had to contend with it too, as we see in John 8:33-44. In verse 39, we read, "Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham." Father Abraham is very prominent in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, but he is no help to one of his children who landed in hell. There are some today who make the dread mistake of thinking that because their parents are Christians, they are automatically acceptable to the Lord. Remember, the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus, the Jewish teacher, "Ye must be born again."

Abraham's faith: Abraham's faith was much discussed by the Jews, so it is natural for James to mention it. James is particularly eager to show that Abraham not only believed, but his believing caused him to do things for the Lord. As we see from verses 22 and 23, he does not belittle Abraham's faith, but rather exalts it by showing how it produced good works.

"... justified by works ..." "Justified by works" here could be translated, "declared righteous out of works" (Young's Literal Translation). We could say "Abraham was declared righteous because of his works." Paul and James look at justification and works from altogether different angles. Paul looks at the source of justification and looks at it from the viewpoint of God. James looks at the effects of justification from the viewpoint of man. Paul says in Romans 4:2, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God." God can look into the heart of man and can see his faith, and when Abraham believed God he was justified. However, a man cannot look into the heart and so cannot say a man is justified until he sees evidences of it in his actions. When we see Abraham leading his son to the altar we know he is justified, because his actions prove he has faith in the Lord. But, if Abraham had not responded in this matter, we would know that he lacked faith, and we would not have been able to declare him righteous. Of course, other incidents beside this one prove Abraham had faith in God. It is possible to have works (although but fleshly) without faith, but it is impossible to have true faith without works resulting.

Works before and after salvation: When Paul writes "not of works", he is thinking of works apart from the faith that trusts and obeys the Lord and that precedes it. When James writes "justified by works," he is thinking of those that follow faith and are produced by it. Paul writes mostly of works of the law, which some of the Jews were using as a ground for salvation. James is speaking of works that result from the new divine life produced by the Spirit of God.

Abraham believed God: Paul in Romans 4 uses altogether a different example in Abraham's life that James does here. Paul uses the time when Abraham believed God about the birth of Isaac. James uses the willingness of Abraham to offer Isaac on the altar. Both required great faith, but the latter required more action. It took great faith, but the latter required more action. It took great faith for Abraham to believe that God would give him a son when he was 85 years old and Sarah only a little younger. It must have been a terrible trial to that faith when it was not answered until he was 100 years old. This example vividly pictures faith without works, because it took a minimum of action on Abraham's part. He had nothing much to do in connection with it apart from patiently waiting.

Faith and works in Genesis 22: The story in Genesis 22, of Abraham offering his son took place many years later. It not only took great faith, but definite and difficult steps of action to prove that his faith was strong and real.

Abraham's faith tested: Genesis 22:2 gives us the great test of his faith, where the Lord says to him, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." What a request. We do not know from this portion just what Abraham thought. We do not hear him reasoning or see him fainting under such a request.

He obeyed: His faith in the Lord was such that he promptly sets out to obey. Genesis 22:3 says, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for a burnt-offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him." Is our faith in the Lord such that we are ready to do His bidding even through His request might be very difficult?

What Abraham expected: Abraham's statement in Genesis 22:5 shows that he was expecting to come back again with his son. He did not expect to leave him dead there on the altar. No doubt, by faith he knew that even if he sacrificed Isaac, God would resurrect him. He says, "I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." God had promised Abraham that of Isaac He would raise a great nation. Isaac's birth was a miracle, and Abraham reasoned, according to Hebrews 11:19, that the Lord could perform a second miracle and raise him from the dead if need be. So we see him go on, even to the binding of his son on the altar and raising the knife ready to plunge it into him, at which point the Lord halts him.

Abraham's victory: So his faith gained the victory. He trusted and obeyed the Lord to the very end and won. James makes a particularly interesting point. What Abraham did certainly proved he had a strong faith in the Lord. Strong and true faith in the Lord will first cause one to trust in Christ enough to obey Him in all things; then, like Abraham, to sacrifice for Him.

God's promises to Abraham: The Lord after this makes great promises to Abraham. He says, "Because thou has done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Gen. 22:16-18). If we continually prove our faith by obeying His Word, He will abundantly bless us, too.

Scripture Reading: James 2:22 (KJV)

Here James appeals to the reason of his readers. "Seest thou how" or "don't you see from this illustration that faith worked his works, and by works his faith was made perfect?"

"... faith wrought ..." The word "wrought" is an old English word which means "worked". In other words, faith caused Abraham to work, and the works showed his faith to be well advanced or matured. His works cooperated with his faith, thus proving his faith and strengthening it too. Only as one acts upon what God says, does he prove he has faith, and each such action strengthens the faith that he has. It was Abraham's faith that caused him to lead his son to the altar. This could be literally rendered, "Faith was working with his works and out of his works was faith made perfect". To understand this verse we need to emphasize "faith" in the first clause and "works" in the second, thus making "faith" the effective force and "works" faith's natural fruit.

By their fruits ye shall know them: The Lord Jesus says in Matthew 7:20, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them". James says exactly the same thing here. God knows the faith of a man before he sees any works, but we can only know as we see the fruits of faith. Abraham had faith in God for many years. He proved it when he was ready to offer up his son on the altar.

"... faith made perfect?" The word "perfect" here does not mean what we usually mean by it in present day English. It means "full-grown" or "mature" rather than "flawless" or "without fault". An apple may not be flawless or spotless, yet it may be full grown and mature. A child is a human, but not a man; he must grow to maturity. So faith is matured and strengthened by works. Every time we step out in faith, we prove that God can be trusted, and it makes our faith stronger for the next step.

Great faith: Faith starts small and grows greater as we act on the Word of God. As giant trees grow year by year so great men of faith take years of trusting and obeying to produce. Abraham is called the father of the faithful. From Genesis 15 to 22 covers a period of perhaps 40 years. He had faith in the Lord all these years. His crowning act is this offering of his son. If we wish to be great men of faith like Abraham, let us step out on every Word of the Lord. We will find that the plank holds.

Scripture Reading: James 2:23 (KJV)

Here James quotes Genesis 15:6; exactly the same verse that Paul quotes in Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6. Paul quotes it to prove that faith is important. James quotes it to prove that although faith is vital and important, it must be accompanied by works or it is not a living faith.

"And the scripture was fulfilled ..." This is an expression the Lord Jesus used often. No doubt James heard Him use it on more than one occasion. It was in the synagogue at Nazareth that the Lord said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:21). This being the home town of the Lord and so of His brother, James, and James being a good Jew, should have been in the synagogue to hear. The apostles often used this expression, too. (Acts 1:16; Rom. 9:17; Gal. 3:8-10).

"... the scripture ..." The word "scripture" is literally "the writings," and always refers to parts of the Old Testament. However, Peter infers that Paul's writings are also a part of Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16). The term is always used as though there were no other writings in existence. Inasmuch as the Scriptures are the only writings of the Lord, there are no others like them. Paul says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).

"... Abraham believed God ..." Abraham was a great man of faith. To believe God was characteristic of him, and it was this that made him great. We read of the great promises the Lord made to Abraham already in Genesis 12:1-3. In connection with these promises the Lord asked him to do a hard thing. "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee." The fact that Abraham went to Canaan and left everybody and everything behind showed that he believed God. Our verse, which is quoted from Genesis 15:6, shows that Abraham believed God in connection with the promise of a son and heir even though he and Sarah were both old. The greatest proof that Abraham believed God was when he took his son to offer him on the altar of Mt. Moriah.

"... imputed unto him for righteousness ..." God declared Abraham righteous in Genesis 15:6. We can also declare him righteous because we know what he did. What was stated in Genesis 15:6 received a higher and greater fulfillment in Genesis 22. Abraham's faith and obedience caused God to declare him righteous, yet he proved himself righteous by his actions. Paul looks at the germ of the matter, while James looks at the full growth.

Do we believe God?: One Christian said one time, "We are unbelieving believers." What he meant was that we had believed in Christ and so were believers; but that we did not trust and obey the Lord as we should. We often say we believe our Lord and the whole Bible, yet how often are we only talking about what to do to be saved, and how often do we fail to prove it by what we do day by day? Just for an example; "Do you ever worry?" "Oh," you say, "everyone worries sometimes." When we worry we do not believe God. Does He not say? "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Abraham: "... friend of God."

When James says, "And he was called the Friend of God," he does not say that he is quoting Scripture. The Jews of James' time called Abraham the Friend of God, and the Arabs do so to this day. In our Authorized Versions we read in 2 Chronicles 20:7, "Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever?" Literally, however, this is "thy beloved." Then in Isaiah 41:8 again we have, "Abraham my friend." This is also literally "Abraham, whom I loved." It may be that the translators were influenced by our verse in James when they so translated these portions. Whatever it may be, the fact is unchanged; Abraham was called and is called today, "The Friend of God."

Abraham greatly beloved: Abraham was highly honored and greatly beloved of God. His faith and willingness to act on the word of God greatly endeared him to God's heart. God talked to him as a man would to a friend. He says in Genesis 18:17, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" And then He tells Abraham of the judgment that is to fall upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

Are we friends of God?: Would the Lord call us His friends? Have we faith like Abraham's? Are we ready to act on the Word of God like he did, even though it would mean great sacrifice? The Lord Jesus says in John 15:14, 15, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." Notice two things here; first, what makes us His friends? When we do what He desires us to do. Then as friends, what does He do for us? He tells us all His affairs.

True Friendship: True friends are considerate of each other. They like to do things that please the other. Are we like the Lord Jesus? He says, "I do always those things that please him" that is His Father (John 8:29). Whatever we seek to do, do we always consider His thoughts on the matter. True friends will also trust each other. The Lord should be able to trust us, and certainly we should trust Him with everything.

Friends are loyal: True friends are loyal to each other. They will not let each other down. They will contend for each other, no matter what the circumstances may be. Are we always loyal to our blessed Lord? Men speak evil of Him, even curse His name. Do we show on whose side we are? Do we contend for Him whatever the occasion may be?

Other characteristics of friends: True friends are very frank in their dealings with one another, but it is always with the thought of being helpful. Their love will stand even to the point of sacrificing for each other. We know these things are true of our Lord, but are they true of us? Do we frankly talk things over with Him? Do we ever sacrifice anything for Him? How about today? Did we sacrifice any time, any comfort, any effort at all? Friends in Proverbs: "Friends" is an interesting subject in the book of Proverbs. "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Prov. 18:24). We know this applies first of all to our Lord Jesus; He is "the friend that sticketh closer than a brother." However, we should be the same kind of a friend to Him. Do we cleave to Him through thick and thin?

Scripture Reading: James 2:24 (KJV)

At first glance this verse seems directly opposed to Romans 3:28; "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Again we would notice that Paul speaks of legal works that precede salvation, and are made a ground for it. James is always thinking of works produced by one trusting and obeying Christ – being born again ... a necessary consequence. Abraham's faith made him willing to offer his son on the altar. Rahab's faith, as we read in the next verse, made her willing to hide the spies – forsaking her own land and people.

"Ye see then how ..." James is saying, as it were, "Does not this illustration of Abraham's faith producing works prove to you that a man is justified by works and not by faith only?" He is appealing to man's own reasoning powers.

Declared righteous: Young's Literal Translation of this verse: "Ye see then, that out of works is a man declared righteous, and not out of faith only." You will notice it says "declared righteous," not "made righteous." A man is righteous in God's sight when he trusts in and obeys the Lord, and is born again. God does not need to see the fruit of faith to know there is faith, but we do. We cannot declare one righteous until we see the fruit of his faith. We can only tell one is a Christian by what he does. So James is not contradicting Paul, but complementing him. Paul is fearful of dead works without a living faith. James is fearful of a dead faith that produces no good works. If no works are produced, faith is a mere dead thing, good for nothing. One who produces no good works proves he has not obeyed God, and should not be declared righteous by man. This is the position of some today who assent mentally to certain doctrinal creeds, but manifest no spiritual life.

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