while today

One of the most important verses in the entire Bible is found in Genesis 15, “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6 NASB95). These words were spoken about Abraham on the night that God took him outside, told him to look up at the stars of heaven, and said to him, “So shall your descendants be” (Genesis 15:5). Abraham believed God’s promise, and because he believed, God credited righteousness to Abraham. He was declared righteous—justified—in that moment.

This verse is quoted on multiple occasions in the New Testament which tells us that it is of great significance. And it holds an incredibly important promise for you and I today. It tells us that we too can be counted as righteous in the eyes of God if we will believe in God’s promises—particularly, His promise of forgiveness and eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We, like Abraham, can be justified by faith (Romans 4:3-5, 22-24).

But what is faith? Is it merely a profession of belief in God?  Is it intellectual agreement with the major tenets of Christianity?

This is the question that James sets before us in James chapter 2. What is true faith? James is clear that it is more than words spoken. It is more than holding to orthodox beliefs. Real faith is a faith which responds to the word of God in obedience. James points to Abraham as an example of this kind of faith. James writes, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?” (James 2:21). It is critical to understand that Abraham offered up Isaac some 30 years after God justified Abraham back in Genesis 15. So which is it? Was Abraham justified when he looked up at the stars and believed God’s promise, or was he justified when he offered up Isaac?

It is in this question that we see the correlation between what Paul and James say about faith and justification. They are using the term “justified” in different—but complementary—ways. Abraham was, in fact, justified by God when he believed in God’s promise. And he was, in fact, justified 30 years later when he offered his son. In the former case, justification means that Abraham was declared righteous by God. In the latter case, justification means something like “vindicated” or “proven to be real.” Abraham was justified in the sense that his faith was proven to be more than just words. The work that he did in offering Isaac completed his faith and fulfilled the earlier words spoken about Abraham (James 2:22-23).

So what is real, saving faith? Paul and James agree. It is trust in God that is demonstrated in action and obedience. Paul speaks of how a sinner is made right with God through faith; James speaks of how that faith is shown to be real.

What about you and me?  Is your faith just words spoken or is it real? Like Abraham, let us show the genuineness of our faith through obedience to our Lord.

—Scott Colvin