A friend of God / James Bible Study (Part 6)

David Hathaway

Do you want to be called a friend of God? Writing in the book of James chapter 2, 'Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.'

While our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds. Faith brings us salvation; active obedience demonstrates that our faith is genuine.