Please explain this.

[Lady Crosstalk]

James 2:20-21
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
(NKJ)

Okay, then how do you explain this?
He was accounted righteous before God several years earlier, BEFORE the birth of Isaac, and before he had done anything to "prove" his faith in God. Check it out in Genesis 15;4-6 below..

Genesis 15:4-6
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."
5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
(NKJ)

It seems that God accounted him righteous solely for his faith in His Promises, and not by anything that he did. There is nothing in Genesis 15 that mentions any works that Abraham did. Paul accurately reports this. It seems that James did not consider the account in Genesis 15. It was not until Genesis 22, many years after Isaac was born, when Abraham was well over 100 years old, that he agreed to offer Isaac.

James writes:
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Neither of those last two statements are in the Genesis 15:4-6 account.
Nowhere does the OT Scripture say that Abraham "was called God's friend" BECAUSE he was willing to offer up his son Isaac. In Isaiah 41:8 it states that God called Abraham His friend but nowhere in the context of the chapter does He say it was because Abraham offered up his son Isaac.

What James wrote, as shown above, are direct contradiction of the Gospel that Paul taught and the account given in Genesis 15:4-6. Abraham was righteous before God solely because he believed God’s promises.

The religious who advocate works can argue this until they are blue in the face but it does not change the FACTS as shown in Genesis.

In my opinion the book of James is devoid of the gospel of grace as taught by Paul.

However, it was compatible with the law of Moses. Since the word of God has to be based on truth, I find the book of James is not based on FAITH in Christ’s work on the cross but only on works of the law and is not for this age of God’s grace. The very fact that it was addressed to Jews (James 1:1) is more proof that it was only for the Jews who were under the law.

It remains to be seen that the religious will try to destroy what I have written by attacking me, personally, and it will show that they want people to believe we are under the law in this age of God’s grace. They can easily attack me but they can not say that the scriptures I have presented do not say what I have reported them to say.

Under grace a person must place their faith (belief) in God’s promise of salvation based on their belief in what He (Jesus) did on the cross where He paid for the sins of the whole world. Through the gospel of grace that was given to Paul God, Himself, paid for the sins of the world and a person has to believe it to have salvation. If they do not then they are condemned because they do not believe God.

One parameter for the proper interpretation of Scripture--especially the Epistles--is to answer the question, to whom was the "letter" addressed? James tells you who he is writing to at the beginning of his Epistle: "I am writing to the 'twelve tribes' --Jewish believers scattered abroad..." Both the Book of Hebrews and James are written to Messianic Jews. The gospel of Matthew also pertains especially to Messianic Jews. It is my personal belief that Messianic Jews should be keeping as much of the Law of Moses as they can--as a mark of their identity. Many Messianic Jews today believe that it is a means to honor their heritage. The Apostle Paul addressed his Epistles to Gentiles--Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, the letters to the half-Gentile, Timothy, pastor of the Gentile church at Ephesus and finally Titus and Philemon who were both Gentiles. The Age of Grace is closing as the "full number of the Gentiles" are coming in. When that heavenly ticker clicks over to the last Gentile, the Father will tell His Son to go fetch His Bride. And then, God will turn His attention to "saving all of Israel" by the pouring out of His Spirit on them. They will finally see their Messiah and come to faith in Him, will rebuild their Temple and re-institute the sacrificial system as it should have been under the Old Covenant. The OT saints always understood that the "blood of bulls and goats" could not take away sin and looked forward to the advent of the Messiah. Once they recognize that Messiah has come, they will see the Temple sacrifices as a "reminder" (Hebrews 10:3) of the deadly effect of sin (they will be mortals with extended life--but still subject to temptation). They will be required to perform godly deeds in addition to their faith. They will be "ruled with a rod of iron".

 

[farouk]

I'm sorry F,,,I have to say this.
I'm afraid you don't understand what Paul is talking about when he mentions works.
I had asked you what he meant in another post but you didn't answer it.

The Jews, before Jesus, were trying to be saved bye THE LAW.
The Law is the 613 rules the Jews had to live by and are found in the O.T.
This would be the Mosaic Covenant that God made with the Israelites when they escaped from Egypt where they had been held as captive slaves for about 400 years.

When Paul speaks of works...he's saying that WORKS ALONE could not save us.
A person could do all the good they want to BUT if they don't believe in God and have faith in God, their good works amount to nothing as far as God is concerned...
although physically it's good to be the receiver of a good work.

Paul is saying that we are saved by FAITH.
Every writer of the N.T. believes this and so does every believer today.
NO ONE on any forum I've been on in 4 years EVER said that we are saved by our works. Those works of which Paul spoke. Works WITHOUT faith.

After we are saved,,,we're expected to do good works.
Every time you read a scripture on works,,,you should match it up to the above...you'll see that it reconciles every time.

This is an important concept in order to be able to understand the N.T.
(otherwise why would Ephesians 2:8-9 be followed by Ephesians 2:10?)

...but the believer in Ephesians 2.10 obeys because s/he is indeed saved for time and eternity through the work of Christ at the Cross, and not because s/he supposedly has to "keep up" works in order to try to remain saved. Paul at the beginning and end of Romans speaks of 'the obedience of faith' and 'obedience to the faith'.

 

[GodsGrace]

...but the believer in Ephesians 2.10 obeys because s/he is indeed saved for time and eternity through the work of Christ at the Cross, and not because s/he supposedly has to "keep up" works in order to try to remain saved. Paul at the beginning and end of Romans speaks of 'the obedience of faith' and 'obedience to the faith'.

What do you think obedience of faith is?
It means we obey out of faith.

What happens if we DO NOT obey God?
If our obedience pleases Him,,,what happens if He is not pleased?
Does God accept disobedience? Isn't that sin for which we should ask forgiveness?

Are we saved for time and eternity?
Could you comment on that verse I gave you just before?
Colossians 1:21-23

What do you suppose verse 23 means?

 

[farouk]

What do you think obedience of faith is?
It means we obey out of faith.

What happens if we DO NOT obey God?
If our obedience pleases Him,,,what happens if He is not pleased?
Does God accept disobedience? Isn't that sin for which we should ask forgiveness?

Are we saved for time and eternity?
Could you comment on that verse I gave you just before?
Colossians 1:21-23

What do you suppose verse 23 means?

I commented earlier that it seems a similar idea to the Lord's commentary on the Parable of the Sower, which shows that some ppl do not have true faith in the first place.

We really can be assured of faith for time and eternity.

1 John 5.13:

'These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.'

 

[farouk]

One parameter for the proper interpretation of Scripture--especially the Epistles--is to answer the question, to whom was the "letter" addressed? James tells you who he is writing to at the beginning of his Epistle: "I am writing to the 'twelve tribes' --Jewish believers scattered abroad..." Both the Book of Hebrews and James are written to Messianic Jews. The gospel of Matthew also pertains especially to Messianic Jews. It is my personal belief that Messianic Jews should be keeping as much of the Law of Moses as they can--as a mark of their identity. Many Messianic Jews today believe that it is a means to honor their heritage. The Apostle Paul addressed his Epistles to Gentiles--Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, the letters to the half-Gentile, Timothy, pastor of the church at Ephesus and finally Titus and Philemon who were both Gentiles. The Age of Grace is closing as the "full number of the Gentiles" are coming in. When that heavenly ticker clicks over to the last Gentile, the Father will tell His Son to go fetch His Bride. And then, God will turn His attention to "saving all of Israel" by the pouring out of His Spirit on them. They will finally see their Messiah and come to faith in Him, will rebuild their Temple and re-institute the sacrificial system as it should have been under the Old Covenant. The OT saints always understood that the "blood of bulls and goats" could not take away sin and looked forward to the advent of the Messiah. Once they recognize that Messiah has come, they will see the Temple sacrifices as a "reminder" (Hebrews 10:3) of the deadly effect of sin (they will be mortals with extended life--but still subject to temptation). They will be required to perform godly deeds in addition to their faith. They will be "ruled with a rod of iron".

Very searching and humbling, isn't it?

 

[CNKW3]

James 2:20-21
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
(NKJ)

Okay, then how do you explain this?
He was accounted righteous before God several years earlier, BEFORE the birth of Isaac, and before he had done anything to "prove" his faith in God. Check it out in Genesis 15;4-6 below..

Genesis 15:4-6
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."
5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
(NKJ)

Was Abraham a righteous man only in Gen 15? Is Gen 15:6 the point at which Abraham became righteous? God had already told him to leave UR and he did it. Plus throughout chapter 12 and 13 we see Abraham building altars and calling on the name of the lord longgg before Gen 15. I believe many years go by in those 3 chapters and the whole time Abraham is worshipping God and being obedient.

It seems that God accounted him righteous solely for his faith in His Promises, and not by anything that he did.

I don’t agree. Up until that point Abraham had been completely obedient and had displayed a faithful attitude toward God.

There is nothing in Genesis 15 that mentions any works that Abraham did. Paul accurately reports this. It seems that James did not consider the account in Genesis 15. It was not until Genesis 22, many years after Isaac was born, when Abraham was well over 100 years old, that he agreed to offer Isaac.

James writes:
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Of course James considered it. Was he inspired or not? The key statement is in vs 22. Abraham’s faith was made “perfect” or “complete” by his obedience. You cannot separate faith and obedience. You can’t be saved by faith and leave out obedience. They are inseparable. Heb says that Christ is the author of eternal salvation to all who OBEY HIM. He is coming to take vengeance on those who “obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ”.

Neither of those last two statements are in the Genesis 15:4-6 account.
Nowhere does the OT Scripture say that Abraham "was called God's friend" BECAUSE he was willing to offer up his son Isaac. In Isaiah 41:8 it states that God called Abraham His friend but nowhere in the context of the chapter does He say it was because Abraham offered up his son Isaac.

Let’s read about the end of Abraham’s life...
Genesis 26:4-5 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Why was Abraham a friend of God? Because he was an obedient, faithful servant.

Under grace a person must place their faith (belief) in God’s promise of salvation based on their belief in what He (Jesus) did on the cross where He paid for the sins of the whole world. Through the gospel of grace that was given to Paul God, Himself, paid for the sins of the world and a person has to believe it to have salvation. If they do not then they are condemned because they do not believe God.

Paul and James do not contradict.
They each highlight a part of Abraham’s faithful life and both parts are necessary...
faith/belief and obedience.
They are inseparable and no one can be saved without both. Do you have faith? Abraham, we are told, had PERFECT faith (belief coupled with obedience)
This is the only kind of faith that saves.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Perfect faith, pleasing faith is the kind that not only “believes” but also “diligently seeks”.

 

[justbyfaith]

NO ONE on any forum I've been on in 4 years EVER said that we are saved by our works.

You say it...

I'm afraid you don't understand what Paul is talking about when he mentions works.
I had asked you what he meant in another post but you didn't answer it.

The Jews, before Jesus, were trying to be saved bye THE LAW.
The Law is the 613 rules the Jews had to live by and are found in the O.T.
This would be the Mosaic Covenant that God made with the Israelites when they escaped from Egypt where they had been held as captive slaves for about 400 years.

I believe that the Bible teaches us that if anyone is seeking to be justified by any kind of works, that they are of the law and will be required to keep the law perfectly from conception into eternity if they are going to enter in that way, Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, Matthew 5:48.

I agree with all except the filthy rags statement.

Then you disagree with scripture....specifically Isaiah 64:6.

Are we saved for time and eternity?

Of course.

 

[justbyfaith]

I hate to have to post stuff that the bible is very clear about.

Here are verses on having to do good works/deeds:
I'm going to print many verses...there are even more:



vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

1. 
   Galatians 6:9-10
   Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
   
   
   Matthew 5:38-48
   
   "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
   
   
   
   
   Luke 6:27-36
   
   "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
   
   
   
   
   1 Peter 3:8-13
   
   To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, "THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
   
   
   Psalm 34:12-16
   
   Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
   
   
   
   Hebrews 13:16
   
   And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
   
   
   
   
   1 Peter 2:20
   
   For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
   
   
   
   1 Peter 3:17
   
   For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
   
   
   
   John 5:28-29
   
   "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
   
   
   
   Luke 6:35
   
   "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
   
   
   
   
   Romans 2:5-11
   
   But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
   
   
   
   
   1 Timothy 6:17-19
   
   Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
   
   
   
   
   
   2 Timothy 2:20-21
   
   Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
   
   
   
   James 2:14-21
   
   What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
   
   
   
   
   James 3:13
   
   Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
   
   
   
   
   
   2 Corinthians 9:8
   
   And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
   
   
   
   Acts 9:36
   
   Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.
   
   
   
   
   Philippians 2:12-13
   
   So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
   
   
   
   
   
   Colossians 1:10-12
   
   so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
   
   
   
   
   Ephesians 2:10
   
   For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
   
   
   
   
   2 Timothy 2:21
   
   Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
   
   
   
   2 Timothy 3:16-17
   
   All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
   
   
   
   
   1 Peter 2:13-15
   
   Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance

None of those verses teach that salvation (continued or otherwise) is of works.

And no other verses that you can present would teach that either.

Because if they did, they would be in contradiction to specific verses in the Bible that tell us that salvation is not of works.

Please take the time to read and meditate upon the meaning of the following scriptures...

Ephesians 2:9 and context.

Titus 3:4-7.

Romans 4:1-8.

Romans 11:5-6.

 

[justbyfaith]

He is coming to take vengeance on those who “obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ”.

Jhn 6:28, Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Jhn 6:29, Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

 

[CNKW3]

Jhn 6:28, Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Jhn 6:29, Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Can’t read your mind and I don’t know what you are implying by that passage.

 

[Lady Crosstalk]

...but the believer in Ephesians 2.10 obeys because s/he is indeed saved for time and eternity through the work of Christ at the Cross, and not because s/he supposedly has to "keep up" works in order to try to remain saved. Paul at the beginning and end of Romans speaks of 'the obedience of faith' and 'obedience to the faith'.

True but faith is in the priority position.

 

[GodsGrace]

I commented earlier that it seems a similar idea to the Lord's commentary on the Parable of the Sower, which shows that some ppl do not have true faith in the first place.

We really can be assured of faith for time and eternity.

1 John 5.13:

'These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.'

Right.
Those that Believe on the name of the Son
HAVE eternal life.
Believe is present tense...
We must Believe at the time of our death.

John 3:36

 

[farouk]

Right.
Those that Believe on the name of the Son
HAVE eternal life.
Believe is present tense...
We must Believe at the time of our death.

John 3:36

...but this may be take to imply the theory behind "extreme unction", which I don't for a moment hold to.

 

[GodsGrace]

...but this may be take to imply the theory behind "extreme unction", which I don't for a moment hold to.

Huh?
Extreme unction!
Why for goodness sake?
It states those who believe are saved.
What if you decide to quit God and stop believing?

 

[farouk]

Huh?
Extreme unction!
Why for goodness sake?
It states those who believe are saved.
What if you decide to quit God and stop believing?

The person clearly never believed in the first place, if this happens.

 

[GodsGrace]

The person clearly never believed in the first place, if this happens.

Not so.
See Luke 8:13 where Jesus Himself says that the person believed for a while.
Also 2 Peter 2 19-21

It Can happen if the Bible says so.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

I'm sorry F,,,I have to say this.
I'm afraid you don't understand what Paul is talking about when he mentions works.
I had asked you what he meant in another post but you didn't answer it.

The Jews, before Jesus, were trying to be saved bye THE LAW.
The Law is the 613 rules the Jews had to live by and are found in the O.T.
This would be the Mosaic Covenant that God made with the Israelites when they escaped from Egypt where they had been held as captive slaves for about 400 years.

When Paul speaks of works...he's saying that WORKS ALONE could not save us.
A person could do all the good they want to BUT if they don't believe in God and have faith in God, their good works amount to nothing as far as God is concerned...
although physically it's good to be the receiver of a good work.

Paul is saying that we are saved by FAITH.
Every writer of the N.T. believes this and so does every believer today.
NO ONE on any forum I've been on in 4 years EVER said that we are saved by our works. Those works of which Paul spoke. Works WITHOUT faith.

After we are saved,,,we're expected to do good works.
Every time you read a scripture on works,,,you should match it up to the above...you'll see that it reconciles every time.

This is an important concept in order to be able to understand the N.T.
(otherwise why would Ephesians 2:8-9 be followed by Ephesians 2:10?)

Amen, The proper faith in our Lord Jesus is together with our works of Obedience to his promises.

 

[Lady Crosstalk]

Not so.
See Luke 8:13 where Jesus Himself says that the person believed for a while.
Also 2 Peter 2 19-21

It Can happen if the Bible says so.

I think that it IS possible to turn back to the world if one is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit--the indwelling is true salvation (Romans 8:9). How can we mere mortals do anything to reverse that? We can grieve the Holy Spirit by our behavior subsequent to salvation, but He will be there reproving and shaping our character until the day we join Jesus. Yes?

 

[ScottA]

He never knew those that practice LAWLESSNESS.

It's also sad that after 2,000 years we don't want to know what Jesus actually said or what He meant...which is quite clear in scripture.

Jesus said to believe and be baptized.
For some reason He said to do this.
It must be done.

If a person comes to believe in Christ and has not been baptized yet,,,that is up to God to know the reason.

Maybe that person didn't know...
Maybe that person had INTENDED to...

I trust our merciful God...
But I think it's incorrect to say that baptism is not necessary when Jesus said it is.

I did not say that baptism is unnecessary. Indeed it is. But the power is not in the ceremonial use of water, but rather by the power of God through the Spirit.

As for "LAWLESSNESS", what is unlawful, is to do things in the name of the Lord without the Spirit. Jesus made it clear that His words are spirit, that the water that He gives is spirit; and the scriptures do not say "water", but rather say "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

 

[Earburner]

James 2:20-21
20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
(NKJ)

Okay, then how do you explain this?
He was accounted righteous before God several years earlier, BEFORE the birth of Isaac, and before he had done anything to "prove" his faith in God. Check it out in Genesis 15;4-6 below..

Genesis 15:4-6
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."
5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
(NKJ)

It seems that God accounted him righteous solely for his faith in His Promises, and not by anything that he did. There is nothing in Genesis 15 that mentions any works that Abraham did. Paul accurately reports this. It seems that James did not consider the account in Genesis 15. It was not until Genesis 22, many years after Isaac was born, when Abraham was well over 100 years old, that he agreed to offer Isaac.

James writes:
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

Neither of those last two statements are in the Genesis 15:4-6 account.
Nowhere does the OT Scripture say that Abraham "was called God's friend" BECAUSE he was willing to offer up his son Isaac. In Isaiah 41:8 it states that God called Abraham His friend but nowhere in the context of the chapter does He say it was because Abraham offered up his son Isaac.

What James wrote, as shown above, are direct contradiction of the Gospel that Paul taught and the account given in Genesis 15:4-6. Abraham was righteous before God solely because he believed God’s promises.

The religious who advocate works can argue this until they are blue in the face but it does not change the FACTS as shown in Genesis.

In my opinion the book of James is devoid of the gospel of grace as taught by Paul.

However, it was compatible with the law of Moses. Since the word of God has to be based on truth, I find the book of James is not based on FAITH in Christ’s work on the cross but only on works of the law and is not for this age of God’s grace. The very fact that it was addressed to Jews (James 1:1) is more proof that it was only for the Jews who were under the law.

It remains to be seen that the religious will try to destroy what I have written by attacking me, personally, and it will show that they want people to believe we are under the law in this age of God’s grace. They can easily attack me but they can not say that the scriptures I have presented do not say what I have reported them to say.

Under grace a person must place their faith (belief) in God’s promise of salvation based on their belief in what He (Jesus) did on the cross where He paid for the sins of the whole world. Through the gospel of grace that was given to Paul God, Himself, paid for the sins of the world and a person has to believe it to have salvation. If they do not then they are condemned because they do not believe God.

True faith in God is to trust in Him with every situation in your life. It's called having the faith of a little child (infant). In the same manner we are to trust in Jesus, in that He alone is the only means by which a person can be saved. Otherwise, they shall remainas lost, being condemned already.
The just shall live BY faith.
That which is not of faith, is sin!
However, faith without works is dead.
Yet so is the reverse true: works without faith is dead also!
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Abraham believed God (faith), and then trusted Him
by obeying Him, even if it be the death of His son (works).
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Mat. 10
[37] He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:
and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
[38] And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
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Is there anything or anyone, in your life, that you love more than Jesus?
When things go bad to worse, even to the point that you must decide to walk away and lose all things and loved ones, will you still trust in Jesus?
That is the faith he has called us to. To have the faith of Jesus!!