Faith Made Perfect by Works

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (James 2:20-22)

Abraham had received a word from God, and it was an extremely difficult one involving his own son. James pointed to this moment as the clearest example of faith and action working together rather than existing separately. Abraham's faith did not remain a private belief. It moved into obedience, even when that obedience made no sense by any natural standard.

The Greek word for “perfect” here means complete or brought to full maturity. James described Abraham's faith as not made complete until it was joined with the corresponding action.

The belief existed before the action, but the action brought that belief to its full expression. Faith and works were never meant to operate independently of each other. They complete one another.

Abraham believed God, and the Bible says that it was counted to him as righteousness. Because of that absolute faith, Abraham was known as a friend of God. That relationship deepened because Abraham did not stop at believing God in his heart. He acted on what God had told him to do, even when it was extremely difficult for his flesh. We should learn from Abraham’s example. When God speaks, we receive it by faith and then choose to act, carrying that faith through to its intended result.

Practical Application

If God has given you a difficult instruction that your faith has agreed to but your actions have not yet followed, take a step of obedience on it today, however small that step may be.

Hebrews 11:17; Genesis 26:5