GENESIS PAPER

Genesis 15:6

• Abraham was justified by his faith (Genesis 15:6).

Genesis 22:9-12

• Here God confirmed what He thought of Abraham, as stated in Genesis 18:19. As a free moral agent, Abraham could have disappointed the Lord, but testing him made it possible to say, now I know. God limits His own attributes to conform to His plan for free moral agents. This makes Him no less omniscient, but makes it possible for Him to respect the will of man. Thus, God does not plan man's choices or acts, but holds him responsible for them.

Hebrews 11:8-9, 17

• By his obedience and faith, Abraham had the promises. Offered his only begotten son through whom the Seed should come (Gen 21:12). Had faith that if the killed his son in obedience that God would raise him from the dead to fulfill what He had promised (Heb 11:19). Received Isaac back from the dead in a figure  (Heb 11:19).

James 2:21-24

• It is clear from Genesis 22 that Abraham proved his faith when he was asked to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. It was faith that led him to this act of obedience (Jam 2:23). Had he refused to obey it would have demonstrated that he had no faith in God or His word. It is also clear that this act of faith and works was not his initial justification by faith. That was 40 to 50 years before offering Isaac (Gen 12:1-4; 15:6: Rom 4:1-6).

Conclusion

If Abraham worked for and merited justification, then it was not of grace because God owed to him. But if he believed God for it instead of working for it, then faith was counted for righteousness and God gave it to him as a favor. Since he was called when he was a heathen, a Gentile idolater, and he was justified freely by grace, then all other sinners can likewise be justified (Gn 15:6; Ro 3:21-28; 5:1-11). But true faith manifests through actions (works). All these Bible passages emphazise faith with works, and works with faith; not faith only or works only. 

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