James 2:24 - James is not talking about justification before God. He is talking about justification before men. "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24 NKJV)
Romans 4:1-5 - We are justified by our faith and not by our works. Paul deals with the root, while James deals with the fruit. If we base our justification on our works, our wages are counted to us as a debt to us, but all of us fail in keeping the entire Law, so it is impossible to be justified by works. We can only be justified by faith, and the righteous foundation for that is Jesus' work on the cross. "What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness," (Romans 4:1-5 NKJV)
Ephesians 2:8-10 - Even the faith that causes us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is a gift of God. We can't boast of our faith because it is given by God, not earned. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV)
James 2:17-26 - This faith is an expression (a fruit) of our already-present righteousness as a believer, not to justify ourselves. James is talking about proving our faith before men through good works. Abraham was about to kill his son Isaac, and Rahab was lying and betraying her nation by hiding spies from Israel. These are not good works recognised in the natural, but these are faith-works that are pleasing to God. "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 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 2:17-26 NKJV)
Abraham about to kill his son Isaac does not seem like a good work in the natural, but the Lord deems it as a good work because it shows obedience to and having faith in Him.
Romans 4:1-5 - We are justified by our faith and not by our works. Paul deals with the root, while James deals with the fruit. If we base our justification on our works, our wages are counted to us as a debt to us, but all of us fail in keeping the entire Law, so it is impossible to be justified by works. We can only be justified by faith, and the righteous foundation for that is Jesus' work on the cross. "What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness," (Romans 4:1-5 NKJV)
Ephesians 2:8-10 - Even the faith that causes us to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is a gift of God. We can't boast of our faith because it is given by God, not earned. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV)
James 2:17-26 - This faith is an expression (a fruit) of our already-present righteousness as a believer, not to justify ourselves. James is talking about proving our faith before men through good works. Abraham was about to kill his son Isaac, and Rahab was lying and betraying her nation by hiding spies from Israel. These are not good works recognised in the natural, but these are faith-works that are pleasing to God. "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 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 2:17-26 NKJV)
Abraham about to kill his son Isaac does not seem like a good work in the natural, but the Lord deems it as a good work because it shows obedience to and having faith in Him.
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