James: More GraceSample

How foolish it is to think that all is well between you and God if you are refusing to obey him!

James is warning his complacent readers. He gives them evidence that faith without obedient deeds is ‘useless’ (v. 20) by looking at the importance of action in Abraham’s life.

• Why was Abraham ‘considered righteous’ (v. 21)?

James is picking up on the incident in Abraham’s life recorded in Genesis 22. There, Abraham obeys God’s command and puts his son, Isaac, on an altar. God spares Isaac and then tells Abraham that he will bless him in extraordinary ways ‘because you have obeyed me’ (Gen. 22:18).

Is this salvation by works? No. ‘Righteousness’ had already been ‘credited’ to Abraham many years before this, just because he trusted God (v. 23). In verse 23, James quotes this earlier incident recorded in Genesis 15:6. There is no mention of Abraham doing anything at all at that earlier time. Abraham became ‘God’s friend’ just because he trusted him.

• So what was the relationship between Abraham’s faith and his later obedience (vv. 22–23)?

As Abraham lifted his precious son onto that altar, his faith and his actions ‘were working together’ (v. 22). Abraham’s inner trust in God was flowing out into active obedience. What he did was really just a demonstration of his faith in God – that is why he was ‘considered righteous’ for what he did (v. 21).

This later obedience made Abraham’s faith ‘complete’ (v. 22). It ‘fulfilled’ that earlier scripture about Abraham believing God (v. 23).

In what way was Abraham’s faith incomplete until he put his trust in God into practice? Think of it like this: when you fill in a form, there is usually a space at the end for your signature. You sign there to confirm that everything you have written above it is true. Signing the form doesn’t make it true, but it makes a clear declaration that it is. If you don’t sign, the form is incomplete.

Obeying God is a bit like signing your claim to trust him. It confirms that you really do. In this sense, Abraham’s actions ‘completed’ his faith. His earlier promise to trust God was ‘fulfilled’.

Look along a true believer’s timeline and you will see that trusting God is always followed by doing what God says. Genuine faith will always show itself in obedience.

James’ message in verse 24 is stark and challenging. If you claim to trust God but then refuse to obey him, don’t think God will accept you.

Pray

Give thanks that, because of Christ's death, our faith is 'credited to [us] as righteousness'. Pray you would express this trust in your obedience to him.