James 2:21

This verse at first seems to contradict other verses that say God declared Abraham righteous when Abraham believed God’s promise (Genesis 15:1-6; Romans 4:1-5). The solution to the problem lies in the meaning of "justified." This word always means to declare someone righteous in the sight of the law, not to make someone righteous in his or her conduct (cf. Exodus 23:7; Deuteronomy 25:1; 1 Kings 8:32). The failure to define justification biblically is what has led some Reformed interpreters to conclude that everyone who is truly justified will inevitably behave righteously.

The NIV translation "considered righteous" is a bit misleading (cf. James 2:25). Abraham was declared righteous more than once. Most interpreters understand the first scriptural statement of his justification as describing his "new birth," to use the New Testament term (Genesis 15:6). This is when God declared Abraham righteous. About 20 years later James says Abraham was justified again. Scripture consistently teaches that believers whom God declares righteous never lose their righteous standing before God (Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1; et al.). They do not need to be saved again. Abraham’s subsequent justification evidently refers to a second declaration of his righteousness. James said this second time Abraham’s works declared him righteous. They gave testimony (bore witness) to his faith. [Note: See Victor P. Hamilton, The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17, p. 441; and Robertson, 6:37.] Works do not always evidence faith (James 2:19), but sometimes they do. They do whenever a person who has become a believer by faith continues to live by faith. Abraham is a good example of a believer whose good works (obedience to God) bore witness to his righteousness. He continued to live by faith just as he had been declared righteous by faith.