The Doctrine of Sola Fide and James 2:14-26, Pt. 3 - The Case of Abraham

These verses (James 2:14-26) have been the occasion of much controversy. Martin Luther was so disturbed at how they conflicted with his understanding of Romans and Galatians that he regarded James with contempt and called the epistle a right strawy one. Others, in an attempt to reconcile James with their understanding of Romans and Galatians have come up with some ingenious ways to do this. Believing that Paul teaches that faith alone without any obedience to Jesus is all that is required for justification, and knowing that James teaches faith alone is dead in itself (vs 17), is barren (vs. 20) and is dead (vs 26); knowing that James teaches that faith without works cannot save (vs. 14) they contend that James is speaking about a pretended faith, while Paul speaks about a faith that is genuine. Others say that James and Paul are speaking about different kinds of justification. While Paul is speaking about justification before God, James is speaking about a justification before men. Then there are those who say that it is a mixture of both of these things. However, the difference between Paul and James is not about what they mean by faith and saved and justified, their difference lies in how they use th word works. While Paul speaks of works in which one may glory in or boast of, and also about works which nullify grace, James speaks of works which quickens faith and perfects it.

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[Papasmurph4]

Justification was no single event in time, as you seem to think, but kept pace with Abraham's faith throughout his life.

[Papasmurph4]

(2) Romans 14:19-22 tells us that when he was near 100 he believed God relative to Sarah's having a child, "Therefore, also it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Finally, (3) when Isaac was a "lad" Abraham's faith was tested, and it is said he "... believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness" (James 2:23). The "faith" of Abraham was no miraculous experience. It was a life of humble acceptance and service in keeping with God's revealed will.

[Papasmurph4]

@gateroadmusic The statement that Abraham's faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness" is made with reference to three very different periods in the patriarch's life. (1) in Genesis 15:6, when told he would have innumerable descendants, "he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." This was the continuation of the faith that Abram had long before demonstrated (see my last two posts).

[Papasmurph4]

Finally, when war broke out and Abraham rescued Lot, Melchizedek says to him, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High" (Genesis 14:18-19). Clearly, Abraham was a true believer long before the account of Genesis 15:6. Yet you believe it wasn't until then that he was justified? This is absurd.

[Papasmurph4]

@gateroadmusic @gateroadmusic From your response, you evidently believe that it is possible for a person to have genuine faith in God and still not be justified by that faith? For it is written in Hebrews 11:8 that Abraham had such faith many years before Genesis 15:6. Furthermore, once he arrived in the land of promise, Abraham built altars at every stopping place and called upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:7, 8; 13:4, 18).

[gateroadmusic]

@Papasmurph4 All the N.T. writers reference this specific point as the time of Abraham's justification (Ro. 4:3,Gal.3:6, Ja.2:23). Why is it a specific point? It is when the Gospel was preached to him (Gal.3:8 ). The Gospel is about Jesus, the seed (Gal.3:16 ,Gen.15:3-6) The promise ( that Abraham believed ) was that Jesus , the Savior, would come from Issac, his son. Jesus said that " Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad (Jn. 8:56).

[Papasmurph4]

@gateroadmusic Let me ask you: Do you believe that Gen 15:6 is the ocassion when Abraham first believed God and when God first justified him on account of his faith? I lokk forward to hearing your response.

[gateroadmusic]

If Abraham was justified before he was circumcised( Gen.15), then he was justified before he offered up Issac( Gen. 22). Romans 4:9-11 should settle once and for all the issue of when Abraham was justified to anyone who desires to know the truth and simply not cling to a religious dogma." for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned?when he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision?Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.