“For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about — but not before God” (Romans 4:2 NET).
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” (James 2:21).
These quotations offer an opportunity to explore the relationship between faith and works as seen in the Biblical epistles of James and Romans. In addition to what we read here in Romans 4:2, the following portions of Romans address this topic as well…
“Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5).
“[God’s] choice is based on his grace, not on what they have done. For if God’s choice were based on what people do, then his grace would not be real grace” (Romans 11:6 GNB).
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).
However, James 2:24 makes the following statement: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” These apparent contradictions have led to considerable controversy. However, a closer look at the context of James’ message can help resolve this apparent discrepancy.
First, James prefaced his statement in James 2:24 with these questions: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14). So, the context of James 2:24 pertains to someone who claims to possess genuine faith, but may not actually have it. Therefore, we need a way to verify that assertion. We can do so by examining the works that proceed from that claim. This is precisely what James encourages us to do in his epistle.
On the other hand, this portion of Paul’s letter to the Romans is addressed to those who sought to maintain a works-based relationship with their Creator. To illustrate the error of that approach, Paul referenced Abraham, the foundational figure of Judaism, and a man who responded to God in faith. This context establishes a foundation that enables us to gain a proper understanding of these two portions of Scripture. For Paul, the question is this: “Where should we place our faith?” James addresses a different question: “What kind of faith is necessary for salvation?”
As one commentator observes…
“The NT does not teach justification by works, but it also does not teach justification by the profession of faith or the claim to faith; it teaches justification by the possession of true faith, and true faith always bears the fruit of love of God and neighbor. James has in mind a genuine, living faith that produces fruitful works, which is evidence that will vindicate (or prove) the validity of one’s authentic justifying faith…” (1)
(1) Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2230). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.