In Romans 4 Paul says in no uncertain terms that, just like Abraham, we are justified by faith NOT works. James says in James 2 that just like Abraham we are justified by works NOT faith alone. This can be very puzzling, and has spawned lots of debate until we realize that each apostle is looking at a different event in Abraham’s life.
Paul, in Romans 4, is looking at Genesis 15 when he was still with out an heir from Sari. God took him out of his tent and pointed him to the sky declaring, that seed from his own body would someday out number the stars! The next verse says, “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)
James, in James 2, is looking at Genesis 22, some 20 years later. Isaac, Abraham’s only son, is a young man and God asks Abraham to take him up on Mt Moriah and sacrifice him. Abraham obeyed God. He packed up his son and some wood and they headed up the mountain. “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” (v. 10) But God stayed his hand saying in verse 12: “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” James says of this incident “by works faith was made perfect” (2:22)
My contention is that Abraham was justified vertically, before God, when he believed that promise out there looking up at the stars. He was justified horizontally, or maybe better “conformationally,” when he trusted God enough to lift that knife! He passed that test, he never looked back after that!
What does that have to do with the teens? It’s possible we have some who haven’t had their “I believe moment” – but that’s unlikely. Pray for them that their confirmation moment (week, month, years) would no more painful than necessary and that God would protect them even as they make their faith their own!
Hope you are able to join us Sunday to celebrate what God is doing in their lives!
Pastor Scott
Grace Notes 