Chapter 2, Verses 20-21 “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?”
James now offers proof of his argument and he does so using the one name all Jews would associate with faith, Abraham. Foolish is a strong word and it doesn’t appear that James is using it lightly. There is no evidence that he has any particular person in mind but rather is referencing anyone who denies the necessity of good works on behalf of the Christian.
Abraham was a great man of faith as even a casual reading of Hebrews will show. Among his many acts of faith none was greater than the offering of Isaac on the altar as directed by God. Abraham had all the physical reasons in the world to refuse. To obey seemed to fly in the very face of God’s promise to him, yet Abraham acted. He believed in God’s resurrection power because of God’s word. Abraham’s justification by faith was, as James tells us, because he acted on his faith.
Task for Today. If you are to act on your faith today, what will you do? You believe in God. James says you do well. What is that belief calling you to do? What good is that belief if you don’t do what it’s requiring? Think of the believing, but non-working demons. You were justified by faith through grace. You must remain justified by faith through works.
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