The Christianity That I Know pt.2

The following is taken from the MacArthur Study Bible, notes on James 2:21, page 1930...

2:21 justified by works. This does not contradict Paul's clear teaching that Abraham was justified before God by grace alone through faith alone (Romans 3:20; 4:1-25; Gal. 3:6, 11). For several reasons, James cannot mean that Abraham was constituted righteous before God because of his own good works: 1) James already stressed that salvation is a gracious gift (1:17, 18); 2) in the middle of this disputed passage (v.23), James quoted Gen. 15:6, which forcefully claims that God credited righteousness to Abraham solely on the basis of his faith ( see notes on Rom. 1:17; 3:24; 4:1-25); and 3) the work that James said justified Abraham was his offering up Isaac (Gen. 22:9,12), an event that occured many years after he first excercised faith and was declared righteous before God (Gen. 12:1-7; 15:6). Instead, Abraham's offering of Isaac demonstrated the genuiness of his faith and the reality of his justification before God. James is emphasizing the vindication before others of a man's claim to salvation. James ' teaching perfectly compliments Paul's writings; salvation is determined by faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9) and is demonstrated by faithfulness to obey God's will alone (Eph. 2:10).

Jms. 2:22 - was made perfect. This refers to bringing something to its end or to its fullness. Just as a fruit tree has not arrived at its goal until it bears fruit, faith has not reached its end until it demonstrates itself in a righteous life.

I wholly agree with MacArthur here.
-Mark Pierson