Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Notice that Abraham was justified by Faith.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
notice that the promise was just that a promise based on Faith not law.
quick question, Was Abraham before or after Israel?
Easy I know, Before so the promise comes before law. Just like Israel was freed from Egypt before God gave law. However that does not mean there is no law or that it is wrong to keep it.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
why does James and Paul seem to contradict one another?
Simple, Paul was speaking in a different context to James. Paul speaks against those who think they can earn their salvation by their own works. James speaks of those who use Faith as an excuse to not do works.
The Truth actually agrees with both Paul and James. it is by Faith we are saved and works are the fruit, Yes real works not works that can't be seen. This is why God saves first and gives law after.
Abraham kept Gods laws as it is written:
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Yet he was an heir because of Faith, See how Faith and works go together. Abraham was not a works based Christian because he kept Gods law. His faith was made perfect by works.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Make sure you pick this up, so many people read this wrong. Paul makes it clear that the law which came later did not take away the promise. So God giving the law did not change anything. Paul is making it clear that the law was not given as some new way of salvation, or some edit to how we are saved. or else the promise would have been made obsolete.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
notice the reason the law was added. by the way to assume that there was no law before exodus 20 is error. or els how did Abraham obey the law? but it was written by the very hand of God because of sin.
Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
notice also that the law is not against the promise, yet so many present it as such. but the law was not given to save but to show sin. The promise is what saves us and only if we believe/have faith
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
here again is a scripture that is so abused. Does Paul mean that after the law was given Faith was gone or that faith only comes after the law? no of course not, Paul makes it clear that Israel should have and could have entered but only by faith. what Paul is saying is that before we have faith we are kept under the law. in other words until I have Faith I will remain in condemnation because I am a sinner. Faith in what? the promise.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law as said shows us sin Romans 7:7. thus our need for salvation which is by promise in Christ. The law serves the same purpose now as it did then. Jesus is the only way out as He was then. same Faith, Same Promise. Just we have more revelation of Jesus than the Jews did because they did not know Jesus except through the sacrificial system.
The Bible is clear that the law is not against or contrary to the Promise. one reveals sin be showing what is good, the other is a promise of God in which Faith is the Key.
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Notice that Abraham was justified by Faith.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
notice that the promise was just that a promise based on Faith not law.
quick question, Was Abraham before or after Israel?
Easy I know, Before so the promise comes before law. Just like Israel was freed from Egypt before God gave law. However that does not mean there is no law or that it is wrong to keep it.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
why does James and Paul seem to contradict one another?
Simple, Paul was speaking in a different context to James. Paul speaks against those who think they can earn their salvation by their own works. James speaks of those who use Faith as an excuse to not do works.
The Truth actually agrees with both Paul and James. it is by Faith we are saved and works are the fruit, Yes real works not works that can't be seen. This is why God saves first and gives law after.
Abraham kept Gods laws as it is written:
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Yet he was an heir because of Faith, See how Faith and works go together. Abraham was not a works based Christian because he kept Gods law. His faith was made perfect by works.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Make sure you pick this up, so many people read this wrong. Paul makes it clear that the law which came later did not take away the promise. So God giving the law did not change anything. Paul is making it clear that the law was not given as some new way of salvation, or some edit to how we are saved. or else the promise would have been made obsolete.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
notice the reason the law was added. by the way to assume that there was no law before exodus 20 is error. or els how did Abraham obey the law? but it was written by the very hand of God because of sin.
Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
notice also that the law is not against the promise, yet so many present it as such. but the law was not given to save but to show sin. The promise is what saves us and only if we believe/have faith
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
here again is a scripture that is so abused. Does Paul mean that after the law was given Faith was gone or that faith only comes after the law? no of course not, Paul makes it clear that Israel should have and could have entered but only by faith. what Paul is saying is that before we have faith we are kept under the law. in other words until I have Faith I will remain in condemnation because I am a sinner. Faith in what? the promise.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law as said shows us sin Romans 7:7. thus our need for salvation which is by promise in Christ. The law serves the same purpose now as it did then. Jesus is the only way out as He was then. same Faith, Same Promise. Just we have more revelation of Jesus than the Jews did because they did not know Jesus except through the sacrificial system.
The Bible is clear that the law is not against or contrary to the Promise. one reveals sin be showing what is good, the other is a promise of God in which Faith is the Key.
Praise His Holy Name!