Trust (Part 4)

There is another passage of scripture that seems, on the surface, to contradict James. It is Romans 4:

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.

“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”

Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;

And then, continuing down, Paul has a point about following the Law. But, don’t think that following the Law brings righteousness either. VS 16-25, Paul continues to focus on Abraham’s active faith.

For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

So, is this contradiction or support? Does James disagree with Paul or vice versa? Here, we swing the other way away from James 2. We say, “Paul says that we live by faith. We are saved by faith alone.” That is correct. But, we have to define what we mean by faith. Note the action words associated with faith and belief – Abraham “grew strong in faith”. He was “fully assured” that God could, would, keep His word. That’s what was “credited to him as righteousness”. He lived in that faith, that belief, that trust, that God would do as He said He would. See, it was more than a state of being, it was a perpetual act. I hear the centurion tell Jesus, “I believe! Help my unbelief.” Almost fully persuaded, but not quite.  And yet, this is what we are called to do; this is how we are called to live: to live "fully persuaded" in God, in all that He is, says, does, etc.