Even Paul had a hard time explaining this for faith and obedience are so intertwined.
James was speaking to Jerusalem Jews in the book of James. James 2:14 to 26 used Abraham as a proof text saying that obedience was required. He told of Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice and declared righteous because of this action.
Paul in Romans is speaking to believing Jews living away from Jerusalem and gentiles in Rome. Paul is teaching these Jews who believed in works only to achieve righteousness about faith for righteousness. He also used Abraham as proof text quoting Genesis 15:6 He (Abraham) believed in God and He credited it to him as righteousness.
They seem to disprove each other, yet both are truth.
How would you explain it? What do you believe?
Both Paul and James taught the same thing concerning faith and obedience.
The whole book of Romans is a masterpiece of inspired literature about this principle or law of faith.
The book of Romans is “bookended” [starts with and ends with] with this principle of faith that operates or functions by obedience, which is why it’s called the “obedience of faith”.
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for
the obedience of faith: Romans 16:26
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for
obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Romans 1:5
In chapter 3, Paul reveals it as the law of faith.
- By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law. Romans 3:27-31
In Chapter 10 Paul teaches how faith comes to us.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then
faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:16-17
Did you notice the phrase... But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
Obeying the Gospel is how a person is born again, or saved.
Hebrews teaches us what faith is, and gives examples of those who heard God and obeyed His voice.
James teaches this same principle.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:21-26
Faith comes to us by hearing God speak, move upon, or inspire and or communicate to us.
When God spoke to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham now had faith.
However, the faith he had was dormant or inactive until he obeyed the word from God that produced faith.
The “work” that Abraham did was to obey God by sacrificing his son on the altar.
Faith without this corresponding action of obedience, is dead, dormant or inactive, just like a body without a spirit is dead, and is unable to function to produce the intended divine result.
In this case, the intended divine result was justification.
Example of healing by faith:
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22
- For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”
God moved upon this woman, as to what to do, which produced faith.
However it wasn’t until she acted upon her faith, that she was healed.
Sorry, this post is getting long.
I will wait for you to comment, then discuss.
JLB
