Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? (James 2:21 NKJ)
What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Rom 4:1-3 NKJ)
I have never read two more seemingly contradictory statements. James says that Abraham was justified by works. Paul says Abraham was not justified by works. Martin Luther had such trouble reconciling the two statements that he finally rejected the book of James as being a legitimate part of New Testament canon. But, are the statements actually in conflict with one another?
Paul wrote against the idea that keeping a law of meritorious works could result in a person's justification. He argued that a man is justified by faith, not by works of law. James was not arguing that point. He was arguing against the idea that real faith consisted only in what a person claimed to believe. James argued that a faith without works is dead, in the same way that the body without the spirit is dead. Each man was writing to correct a different kind of problem, therefore, it is a mistake to make the statements of each equal to the other.
We need to emphasize both arguments. If you try to earn or deserve your place in heaven, you will fail. Justification and all that goes with it, is achieved by the grace of God, not the works of man. Faith is not an attempt to earn or deserve what God gives to us through Jesus Christ. On the other hand, if you believe that faith means that we have no active involvement in living out what we believe, then you have misunderstood and misrepresented the grace and mercy of God. If one believes and trusts God, how can that person not act upon what he or she believes? If you believe God gave a responsibility to help people who are hungry, but you only wish them well, what kind of faith is that? Feeding a hungry person would not be earning or deserving justification, but it sure would be consistent with a faith that motivated us to serve and obey God.
Let's go back to Abraham. Abraham proved his faith by the working of his faith. When he offered (verb -- action) his son Isaac, he was justified. By earning or deserving that justification? No. By showing his faith in God. On the other hand, compared to one who tries to earn or deserve his justification by his works, Abraham was not justified that way. Instead, he was justified by his faith, when he believed God. Paul and James do not conflict, they actually harmonize to give us a grander picture of faith. My faith must have the elements of belief and action (or trust and obedience). My faith is not, however, an effort to earn justification. My faith is a reflection of the fact that I believe, trust and depend on the power and achievement of God on my behalf. I accept his grace and mercy and know that I could never deserve or earn my stand with Him. But I will never make the claim of faith without following through and completing my faith. That's where works come into play. There is a great difference between works of merit and works of faith. Works of merit put the focus on myself. Works of faith put the focus on God and His Son, Jesus Christ. One fails to justify, the other does.
Don't live by works of merit. Live by faith (which includes what you believe, coupled with what you're going to do about it).
Copyright © 1995 Bill Denton. Permission granted to reprint in church bulletins, for use in sermon and/or Bible class material, or other religious teaching format. Articles may not otherwise be printed without written permission of the author.