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We can not be Abraham’s, or inheritors of the promise, unless we do it the same way Abraham did it, by having faith, not the Law.

Consider this:

Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,
and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God.
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:20-24)

Consider this:

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [James 2:20].

Faith without the fruit of faith is empty and futile as far as the world is concerned.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only [James 2:21–24].

Paul said that Abraham was justified by faith (see Rom. 4:3), and Genesis tells us that he was justified by faith (see Gen. 15:6; 22:1–14).

Was Abraham justified when he offered his son Isaac? The question is: Did he offer his son Isaac? And the answer is: No, he didn’t.

Then what was Abraham’s work of faith? How did works save him? His faith caused him to lift that knife to do a thing which he did not believe God would ever ask him to do. But since God had asked him, he was willing to do it. He believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead. Abraham never actually offered Isaac, because God provided a substitute, but he would have done it if God had not stopped him.

This is a illustration of the fact that you demonstrate your faith by your actions. The action of this man was that he believed God.

BigMack

JH-We can not be Abraham’s, or inheritors of the promise, unless we do it the same way Abraham did it, by having faith, not the Law.

Malakhi- Consider this:………James 2:20-24 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren?

Paul was clearly telling us that keeping the law will not justify us, and James is saying that when you have been justified, good works will follow and show your faith that others will see it by the works of love that you do.

Paul’s talking about the works of the law that are not able to save or justify a man, (following the many laws that require work,) and James is talking about the good works of faith and love, not works of the law.

Two completely different meanings of the word “works”.

The works of the law could be the 5rd commandment, to honor your mother and father. A man could by the law, go through all the motions of giving honor to them and be far from it in his heart, so the true keeping of honor has to come from the heart, not ordered by the law.

It would be considered the works of the law, or to a Christian, believing the law will give us salvation.

JH :-)