So, you're saying, also, that Abraham found according to the flesh that he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.
What? No! “according to the flesh” in Romans 4:2 refers to man without God and faith - so it is saying,
IF Abraham had no faith and was acting "according to the flesh" alone, his works would impress only men, not God.
The same analogy is used by Paul in Gal 3:2-3, where “faith” is called “Spirit” and (useless) “works” are called “the flesh”.
”as pertaining to the flesh” in verse 1 is referring Abraham as our father.
This is so clueless it’s embarrassing.
Claiming that Abraham’s obedience TO GOD “justified” him before men and NOT BEFORE GOD is hardly sound logic - it is in fact the logic of a dunce.
Do you consider that Abraham was justified (even before God) because he offered up his son? If so, then he is justified for that reason in your eyes....and you are a man.
Comedy gold. What is the point of Abraham (supposedly) being “justified” by men who lived thousands of years after he died?
By the way, how do men “justify” Abraham? What does that even mean?
There is no need to demonstrate our faith to God; because He already sees our faith
In that case, why did God TEST Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac?
”By faith Abraham, when he was
tested, offered up Isaac” (Heb 11:17)
”After these things, God
tested Abraham …” (Genesis 22:1-12).
God tests our hearts and our faith, as these scriptures imply:
”now for a little while you may have to
suffer various trials, so that the
genuineness of your faith … is
tested by fire (1Peter1:6-7)
1Thess 2:4 says God “tests our hearts”
”Blessed be the man who
endures trial, for when he has stood
the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to
those who love Him” (James 1:12)
”Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,
that you may be tested … Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10).
what works did the thief on the cross do that demonstrated his faith to God; that completed his faith?
He defended Jesus when Jesus was mocked by the other criminal on the cross. He also confessed to his sinfulness and publicly announced his faith in Jesus by asking Jesus to save him on the Last Day (a public confession of faith is a work).
Stop trusting that you are going to save yourself apart from such a confession by doing good works....such works are as filthy rags and will not be accepted before God (
Isaiah 64:6).
Isaiah 64:6 refers to those faithless Israelites who abandoned Yahweh and worshipped false gods (v.7) - their good works were useless because without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). Furthermore, verse 5 says, “You (God) meets (approves of) him who works righteousness and remember you (God) in your ways” - ie, those who are faithful to God and do the righteous works of the Law - faith and works.