The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in James 2:20-22,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."
As James points to the kind of faith God looks for in all of us, using Abraham as an example, he says that Abraham's faith was made complete by what he did. In Genesis 22:1-19 we read of the account of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac on one of the mountains of Moriah. What did Abraham do? "Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey..." and proceeded to do what God told him. Abraham was a man of faith and became the patriarch of all who place their faith in God, see Romans 4:11-12.
Did God become indebted to Abraham for what he did? When God credited Abraham's faith as righteousness, Genesis 15:6, did God owe it to him? Did Abraham's faith in any way set him apart as having earned anything? No, faith is not like that. As we discover what faith is all about in the pages of Scripture we discover that faith does not make one man better than the next, it does not make a man "more good" than any other man. What it does do is bring us salvation from God. This salvation was earned by Jesus Christ hanging on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. This salvation was made possible by God, our Father visiting his judgment, our punishment, upon the Son of his precious love. God sent his Son to save the world. Faith is not a "work" and doesn't "earn" us anything. Our relationship with God came at a very heavy price, a price paid entirely by Jesus Christ.
I am reminded of what Paul had to say about this in Romans 4:1-6, "What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Abraham didn't do anything that made him a better man than any other. He didn't do anything that warranted God owing him salvation. Yet, because of God's wonderful grace, Abraham received salvation because he trusted in God. Abraham's actions manifested the faith James speaks of in James 2:20-22. His demonstration of faith through his actions "completed" his posture of faith in God. His faith was undeniable.
Some misunderstand that faith somehow brings us merit as a better person than another and so we are rewarded with salvation. Not so. Faith does bring us salvation, not because it earns us salvation, but because God determined in ages past that he would bestow his salvation, his righteousness upon all who trust in him. Salvation is by faith and faith alone.
What grips my heart in all of this is that God has made salvation free to us, precisely because it is by faith. "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace…" Romans 4:16a. God offers us salvation, given freely to all if we embrace him in faith. It is free to me but cost dearly, a cost shouldered by my wonderful and loving Savior, Jesus Christ!
As James points to the kind of faith God looks for in all of us, using Abraham as an example, he says that Abraham's faith was made complete by what he did. In Genesis 22:1-19 we read of the account of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac on one of the mountains of Moriah. What did Abraham do? "Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey..." and proceeded to do what God told him. Abraham was a man of faith and became the patriarch of all who place their faith in God, see Romans 4:11-12.
Did God become indebted to Abraham for what he did? When God credited Abraham's faith as righteousness, Genesis 15:6, did God owe it to him? Did Abraham's faith in any way set him apart as having earned anything? No, faith is not like that. As we discover what faith is all about in the pages of Scripture we discover that faith does not make one man better than the next, it does not make a man "more good" than any other man. What it does do is bring us salvation from God. This salvation was earned by Jesus Christ hanging on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. This salvation was made possible by God, our Father visiting his judgment, our punishment, upon the Son of his precious love. God sent his Son to save the world. Faith is not a "work" and doesn't "earn" us anything. Our relationship with God came at a very heavy price, a price paid entirely by Jesus Christ.
I am reminded of what Paul had to say about this in Romans 4:1-6, "What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Abraham didn't do anything that made him a better man than any other. He didn't do anything that warranted God owing him salvation. Yet, because of God's wonderful grace, Abraham received salvation because he trusted in God. Abraham's actions manifested the faith James speaks of in James 2:20-22. His demonstration of faith through his actions "completed" his posture of faith in God. His faith was undeniable.
Some misunderstand that faith somehow brings us merit as a better person than another and so we are rewarded with salvation. Not so. Faith does bring us salvation, not because it earns us salvation, but because God determined in ages past that he would bestow his salvation, his righteousness upon all who trust in him. Salvation is by faith and faith alone.
What grips my heart in all of this is that God has made salvation free to us, precisely because it is by faith. "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace…" Romans 4:16a. God offers us salvation, given freely to all if we embrace him in faith. It is free to me but cost dearly, a cost shouldered by my wonderful and loving Savior, Jesus Christ!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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