Simply giving a head assent to truth is not much better than what the demons do. Simple monothe ism will never take a man to heav en. Salvation is a personal matter. Many people believe in the Al mighty but they are still strangers to the grace of Cod and are spir itually dead. Salvation requires something more than a mere men tal concession to the doctrine of one God. Faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us is what brings eternal life. That faith in your life will be demonstrated in its reality by the way you live and the good works which you perform. The more I study the Epistle of James, this tremendous book of practical theology, the more I am caught upwith the important truths it contains for this present hour of spiritual need. I hope you will scru tinize each verse and chapter very carefully. The Apostle points out that it is all religious presumption if a man does not really live up to what he believes in his heart. Sal vation requires more than a men tal concession to the reality of God. The demons of hell believe that much, but no one would argue in favor of their salvation. Their knowledge of God's existence and of His intention to judge them cre ates stark terror for them. Beginning with verse 21 of James 2 we have an excellent illustration of real faith in the person of Abra ham. It is fitting and proper for James to turn to scriptural examples to support his thesis that good works are the necessary by-prod uct of real spiritual faith. Abraham had been especially chosen of God to head up the nation of Israel. The patriarch's life and testimony were well known to every Jew. On Page 42
the other hand Rahab was a Gen tile whose moral reputation was dubious to say the least. Neverthe less she believed in the one true God and proved her faith by com mitting treason and helping the people of Israel. Both of these ex hibited the kind of faith that re sults in spiritual obedience. Abraham's convictions were ac companied by corresponding con duct. You can say that you are a Christian, but if you do not prove it by the way you live, your faith is absolutely vain. James reasons, "Was not Abraham our father jus tified by works when he offered Isaac, his son, upon the altar?" This seems to be a direct contra diction against Rom. 4:1-3. The passage is understood as we em phasize Paul's words, "but not be fore God." The initial act of salva tion justifies us before God while our resultant good works justify us before men. Abraham initially became right ly related to the Lord by grace through faith alone. He made no contribution to his salvation. But there is really no contradiction whatsoever. Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac on the altar, the one through whom God's promises were to be fulfilled, is incontrover- sible proof that he really believed in the Lord. He served God out of love and not simply out of fear. The fact is that God's declaration of Abraham's faith took place about 30 years before Isaac was taken to Mt. Moriah (Gen. 15:6). The wil lingness to offer Isaac did not make him righteous, but it demonstrated that he was already righteous. Jus tification before men requires works to prove the individual knows the Lord.
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