We can argue the definition of 'faith' vs. the definition of 'works'. But the point here is works of faith do not secure
what you already have through faith in God's forgiveness all by itself.
Abraham is our example. He did not do anything to receive the righteousness that comes from God. He was circumcised as the sign of THE RIGHTEOUSNESS HE ALREADY HAD by faith. The work of circumcision is not the point. The point is he did NOTHING to receive the righteousness that is from God. Instead he believed God and received the righteousness that is from God. His work thereafter confirming the righteousness
he already had by faith:
"11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:" Romans 4:11
"21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22And therefore it (his faith, not his faith + work) was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;" Romans 4:21-24
Amen and well said!
Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption alone and not based on the merits of our works. (Romans 3:24-28) Those who teach salvation by faith
and works cannot seem to grasp this and there is a reason for that. To say that we are saved by faith + works of faith (works produced out of faith) culminates in 'works righteousness' and is a perversion of the gospel.
Abraham's work of offering up Isaac did not result in God accounting Abraham as righteous. The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6,
many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22. The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it
showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith, which is the 'sense' in which Abraham was 'justified by works' in James 2:21. He was
shown to be righteous.
Hebrews 11:1 - Faith
is the
assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. In Hebrews 11, notice in all of these occurrences that is was "by" or "out of" faith, not faith is in essence, these acts of obedience/works. Their faith was genuine and it was shown by their actions (works) so all of these works accomplished in Hebrews 11 were done "by" or "out of" faith, but those works are not the essence of faith, only the evidence (fruit) of faith. That is absolutely critical to understand! We are saved through faith at it's origin and not at some time later, based on the merit of works. Faith is the root of salvation and works which follow are the fruit. Works-salvationists cannot grasp this.
Works-salvationists typically "add" works to the definition of faith and try to "shoe horn" works "into" salvation through faith. For example, Roman Catholics teach that we are saved through faith "infused" with works, then those works become meritorious for receiving eternal life. I was once in a discussion with a Roman Catholic who made made this statement to me below:
We are saved by faith - as long as you properly define "faith". Faith is not simply "believing". Faith INCLUDES: Being baptized, eating His body and drinking His blood/partaking the Lord's Supper during Mass, works of mercy and charity, obeying his commandments, doing the will of the Father etc..
Now initially, this Roman Catholic was in denial when I told him that the Roman Catholic church teaches salvation by works, but as you can see from his statement above, his argument about not teaching salvation by works out of one side of his mouth, then out of the other side of his mouth saying that faith is
defined as and
INCLUDES these works above is just sugar coated double talk and equates to salvation through faith (his version of faith) + works.
Prior to my conversion while still attending the Roman Catholic church several years ago, if you asked me what faith "is" I basically would have said that faith "is" believing and faith "is" baptism and faith "is' multiple acts of obedience and faith "is" works. The natural man cannot understand.
In an effort to "get around" the truth that we are saved through faith in Christ alone and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8-9) Roman Catholics will say we are saved by "these" works (good works/works of faith etc..) and just not "those" works (works of the law) but that argument is bogus. We are not saved by works in general. (Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9) 
