Abraham's Justification

Woods says the word translated "working together" comes "from sunergei, imperfect active of sunergeo, to cooperate with; hence, faith and works kept on cooperating with each other to produce the result - Abraham's justification". Abraham's faith was brought to its full maturity by works. Faith without works would then be imperfect (dead, verse 17) and unable to save (James 2:22).

The quote in James 2:23 comes form Genesis 16:6. Abraham was 75 years old when he first received the blessings promise (Genesis 12:1-4). He had no children, yet he had faith that God could work what he promised. God counted that faith for righteousness. It should be observed that Abraham's faith did not fully mature until he offered up Isaac, as noted above. His faithfulness caused God to call him his friend. We, thus, are brought by James to the inescapable conclusion that faith only will not save. Instead, it is a working faith which saves (James 2:24).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising