In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham by commanding him to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham obeyed God promptly (v. 3). He took Isaac to the place appointed by God, built an altar, laid Isaac upon the altar and drew a knife to kill him. At that moment God stopped Abraham and told him he had passed the test: "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me" (Gen. 22:12).
James tells us four things were accomplished when Abraham passed this great test of faith (James 2:21-23).
1. Abraham was justified. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?" (v. 21). It will help us to consider this word in a legal sense. The idea of being justified is to be acquitted of all charges; to be pronounced "not guilty." This means he was declared to be in a right relationship with God. Abraham was a great man, but he still had sin in his life which separated him from God. When Abraham's faith expressed itself in works of obedience, he was justified before God.
2. Abraham's faith was perfected. "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?" (v. 22). The word "perfect" means to be complete. Abraham possessed faith. He believed God, but there was still something lacking in his faith. It was not until his faith expressed itself in obedience to God's command that his faith was perfected.
3. Abraham proved himself to be righteous. "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness'" (v. 23a). The Scripture to which James refers is Genesis 15:4-6. This is the account of God promising Abraham that a child would be born from his own body and that, from this one child, his descendants would become more numerous than the stars of heaven.
Abraham had no logical reason to believe this promise. He and his wife were both well beyond child-bearing age (Rom. 4:19-21). However, he accepted God's promise. Because there was nothing more that Abraham could do at that moment than believe, God reckoned or accounted Abraham to be righteous. When the time came for Abraham's faith regarding this specific promise to be expressed in works, Abraham proved with his works what God has already said about his faith.
Today, we do not have to wait to act upon God's commands. The requirements of the gospel have already been set forth: believe, repent, confess and be baptized. Our faith must move us to obey these commands before we are considered righteous before God.
4. Abraham was called the friend of God. "And he was called the friend of God" (v. 23b). God considered Abraham to be His friend because Abraham put God before all other things and obeyed His will. We can be friends of God if we will likewise obey His will. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" (John 15:14).
Why did God make Abraham face this test? Being God, didn't He already know about Abraham's faith and loyalty? The test was not so much for Abraham as it was for us. "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning..." (Rom. 15:4). Because of Abraham's example, we can have a perfect understanding of what saving faith really is. Have you placed your trust in God's promises? Have you expressed your faith by obeying God's commands? Why not obey the gospel today?