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NASB | Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 12:1 Now [in Haran] the LORD had said to Abram, "Go away from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; [Heb 11:8-10] |
Bible Question:
Is there a such thing as "obedient faith"? I ask that, because in the book of Heb 11 that's all you see, that by faith so-and-so did this or that. And Romans 4:1-5 says " not to him that worketh" And James saids, 2:17 Even so faith, if hath not works, is dead, being alone. vs.20-26 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altat? Gen 22:1-18 vs.18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. That's "obedient faith" that James is talking about. Jame 2:22 Seest thou how by faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was Fulfilled which saith, ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: and he was called the Friend of God. Obedient faith is what justified Abraham. vs. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? Hebrews 11 gives us all the people of faith, and what they did, and not one person was with faith alone. So is the book of Romans 4 a contradition to Hebrew and James? |
Bible Answer: Faith is an act, a work. In German, for ex., Ich Glaube, "I believe", literally means "I faith". First, we are saved by faith... Eph 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Then we're perfected by works: James 2:22 "Seest thou how by faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" Abraham trusted God to the extent that he was ready to sacrifice Isaac, ready to demonstrate his faith through an act that was pure Abraham and totally in his character: Mat 7:20 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Sin, like faith, is also an act; and like faith, it's an act of the heart: Mat 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Rahab just acted on what was already in her heart. First it's faith, then works. He's after our character: Rom 5:3,4 :...but we glory also in afflictions, knowing that affliction works out patience, and patience works out proven character; and proven character, hope." So these are complementary, not contradictory. Works are obedient faith. Colin. |