James Expounds on Faith Volume 28

 Faith without Works is Dead Faith Part 4

James 2:23-24 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. KJV

What was documented of Abraham in the Holy Scriptures (first by Moses in the book of Genesis) was the satisfying and complete faith of this man in God/The Lord and how his faith was proven over time by his obedience to the Word of the Lord which came to him, as it is written and documented for us here with these words from the Apostle James, "And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:23-24) (KJV). The English word 'Scripture' is translated by the Greek word graphē which means a document, that is, Holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it): - Scripture. The little English phrase 'was fulfilled' is translated by the Greek word plēroō meaning to make complete, accomplish, satisfy, or finish. The little English phrase 'it was imputed' is translated by the Greek word logizomai which means to take an inventory, that is, estimate (literally or figuratively): - conclude, account or reckon. The English word 'righteousness' is translated by the Greek word dikaiosunē meaning equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: - righteousness. We see in the breaking down of all these words and phrases that Abraham's faith was so documented by God the Father in the very beginning of His Holy Writ (the Bible) in order to show the faith of this man to all of the unbelieving world of what faith in Him looks like at the human level, for Abraham simply believed God, therefore, he was accounted or concluded or reckoned by God to be righteous or justified before Him and called God's Friend. When the Word of the Lord came to Abraham concerning how numerous his descendants would be on the earth 🌎 he believed God, as it is written and documented for us by Moses with these words, "After these things the Word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the Word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:1-6) (KJV). We see then that Abraham did not hesitate to continue to believe God/The Lord when his faith was tested by the command to sacrifice his son Isaac, because Abraham trusted that the Word of the Lord that came to him earlier was true and that he simply had to believe God to either keep the knife from killing Isaac or to resurrect Isaac from the dead, for this is how much Abraham trusted in the Lord's Word spoken to him above in Genesis 15:1-6. Here is what the JFB Commentary had to say of this, "Abraham's offering of Isaac was not a mere act of obedience, but an act of faith. Isaac was the subject of the promises of God, that in him Abraham's seed should be called. The same God calls on Abraham to slay the subject of His own promise, when as yet there was no seed in whom those predictions could be realized. Hence James' saying that Abraham was justified by such a work, is equivalent to saying, as Paul does, that he was justified by faith itself; for it was in fact faith expressed in action, as in other cases saving faith is expressed in words. So Paul states as the mean of salvation faith expressed. The 'Scripture' would not be 'fulfilled,' as James says it was, but contradicted by any interpretation which makes man's works justify him before God: for that Scripture makes no mention of works at all, but says that Abraham's belief was counted to him for righteousness. God, in the first instance, 'justifies the ungodly' through faith; subsequently the believer is justified before the world as righteous through faith manifested in words and works."

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 2:23-24, "And by this means you come to the true sense of that scripture which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, James 2:23. And thus he became the friend of God. Faith, producing such works, endeared him to the divine Being, and advanced him to very peculiar favours and intimacies with God. It is a great honour done to Abraham that he is called and counted the friend of God. You see then (James 2:24) how that by works a man is justified (comes into such a state of favour and friendship with God), and not by faith only; not by a bare opinion, or profession, or believing without obeying, but by having such a faith as is productive of good works. Now besides the explication of this passage and example, as thus illustrating and supporting the argument James is upon, many other useful lessons may be learned by us from what is here said concerning Abraham. [1.] Those who would have Abraham's blessings must be careful to copy after his faith: to boast of being Abraham's seed will not avail any, if they do not believe as he did. [2.] Those works which evidence true faith must to works of self-denial, and such as God himself commands (as Abraham's offering up his son, his only son, was), and not such works as are pleasing to flesh and blood and may serve our interest, or are the mere fruits of our own imagination and devising. [3.] What we piously purpose and sincerely resolve to do for God is accepted as if actually performed. Thus Abraham is regarded as offering up his son, though he did not actually proceed to make a sacrifice of him. It was a done thing in the mind, and spirit, and resolution of Abraham, and God accepts it as if fully performed and accomplished. [4.] The actings of faith make it grow perfect, as the truth of faith makes it act. [5.] Such an acting faith will make others, as well as Abraham, friends of God. Thus Christ says to his disciples, I have called you friends, John 15:15. All transactions between God and the truly believing soul are easy, pleasant, and delightful. There is one will and one heart, and there is a mutual complacency. God rejoiceth over those who truly believe, to do them good; and they delight themselves in Him." Here also is what F.B. Meyer had to say of Abraham's faith, "The Apostle is speaking here of a faith that does not result in a changed life. It is the faith which believes about Jesus Christ, as distinguished from that which believes in Him. We may believe about Him as we do about Luther or Washington, but such faith will not avail, either here or hereafter. It can no more affect our condition than the pious wish that a shivering beggar may be warmed, and fed will make him either one or the other. The presence or absence of results in life and conduct is the real test of faith, as the green shoot of a living seed. James calls these results works. We are justified by works, because they prove our faith to be the real faith. Real faith binds the soul to the living Christ, produces deep penitence and humility, and brings about an absolutely new sort of behavior-as when Abraham was willing to offer Isaac, and Rahab received and assisted the spies. To reckon on God is to be a friend of God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…