June 13, 2004

JUSTIFIED BY WORKS

James 2:21 & Galatians 5:4

 

   "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (James 2:21). At first reading this verse seems to contradict Paul's statements, "to him that does not work, but believes on Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness," and "as David described the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works" (Rom. 4:5-6).

Some suggest this contradiction is resolved by realizing that God sees the faith whereas men see the works, that faith is "before God," and works are for "men to see." But this idea fails when we realize that Abraham's offering of Isaac was witnessed only by God, for even the servants were told to wait for their return. And the work of faith James ascribes to Rahab has even greater problems, for men might not call her hiding spies of the invading Israeli army a work of faith. Might it not seem to be treason? These "works of faith" are not such as men might be expected to admire!

   The works listed for Abraham and Rahab expressed their faith many years after they first heard God's word and believed His message. Abe was about 80 when "he believed the LORD, and He counted it to him for righteousness," and about 120 if Isaac were a grown lad of 20 and able to carry the sacrificial wood the mount (Gen. 15:6, 22:6). Rahab could have heard of God's exploits for Israel in Egypt against Pharaoh years before she was challenged to hide the spies when Israel planned to destroy Jericho as they invaded Canaan . (See Joshua 2:10.)

   Paul wrote of God initially justifying the sinner by faith, but James wrote of God justifying the saint by works, "how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect" (2:22). It cannot be that "works-justification" played any part in redemption, nor that his security hung in the balance. James' epistle stresses practical good works springing from faith in action. He wrote, "receive the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls..." (1:21). This is not redemption but "saving of the soul" by works, so "if these things be in you and abound...ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful" (2 Pet. 1:8).

 

Ivan L. Burgener