James is referring to Genesis 22 when he speaks of Abraham being justified by works:
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? - James 2:21
9 ...Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar...
11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven... 12He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” - Genesis 22:9-12 NAS
Earlier, Abraham was justified by believing what God told him. Then in chapter 22 above he was justified by obeying what God told him to do. God saw it (the angel of the Lord, actually) and he was justified by what he did. James is saying the saved person is justified by both, what he believes, and what he does, and not by faith that is 'alone'.
24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. - James 2:24
The person who thinks they can be saved by faith 'alone' and don't have to have the footsteps that correspond with that faith is in for a rude awaking when Jesus comes back. Faith that can not be validated by what it does is dead faith and is a 'faith' that can not save you. Not even Paul said the faith that justifies apart from works is 'alone'. Even in his doctrine the faith that justifies apart from works is the faith that finds it's expression in it's obedience to God, specifically the obedience to love (the summation of all of the commands of God).
5For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything (toward justification), but faith working through love. - Galatians 5:5-6
Faith that obeys, that is the faith that justifies apart from works and which saves you.
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? - James 2:21
9 ...Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar...
11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven... 12He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” - Genesis 22:9-12 NAS
Earlier, Abraham was justified by believing what God told him. Then in chapter 22 above he was justified by obeying what God told him to do. God saw it (the angel of the Lord, actually) and he was justified by what he did. James is saying the saved person is justified by both, what he believes, and what he does, and not by faith that is 'alone'.
24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. - James 2:24
The person who thinks they can be saved by faith 'alone' and don't have to have the footsteps that correspond with that faith is in for a rude awaking when Jesus comes back. Faith that can not be validated by what it does is dead faith and is a 'faith' that can not save you. Not even Paul said the faith that justifies apart from works is 'alone'. Even in his doctrine the faith that justifies apart from works is the faith that finds it's expression in it's obedience to God, specifically the obedience to love (the summation of all of the commands of God).
5For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything (toward justification), but faith working through love. - Galatians 5:5-6
Faith that obeys, that is the faith that justifies apart from works and which saves you.
James said faith without works is dead, because he is talking about mere intellectual assent without conversion. This does not bring spiritual life
Those who have believed from the heart have been raised to spiritual life. Therefore the things that pertain to godliness begin to progressively manifest in them, as they walk in the Spirit and grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
Every good gift comes down from the Father of Lights. All that is good flows from Him. By Him and of Him are all blessings in heaven and on earth
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