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James 2:21-22
21 Was [dikaioo] not [ou] Abraham [Abraam] our [hemon] father [pater] justified [dikaioo] by [ek] works [ergon], when he had offered [anaphero] Isaac [Isaak] his [autos] son [huios] upon [epi] the altar [thusiasterion]?
22 Seest thou [blepo] how [hoti] faith [pistis] wrought [sunergeo] with his [autos] works [ergon], and [kai] by [ek] works [ergon] was [teleioo] faith [pistis] made perfect [teleioo]? KJV-Interlinear
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; NASB
It is often said that the seed contains the full tree, but the tree is not recognized until it is grown up. We can look at a seed, but not see the tree. While a seed, it is only a mere potential.
And thus it is with our spiritual life.
When we are born into this world, we are nothing more than a potential. We have to add time, and volition, and the gospel, before the next phase (life after salvation) may, repeat, may become a reality.
So, we have life, plus the gospel, and then faith (belief), and then we have the reality of salvation.
Likewise, after salvation, we are still a potential. To salvation, we add doctrine, and a whole lot of positive decisions (your daily study, daily intake of doctrine, daily application of doctrine to your life), before your life will realize its full potential and become the reality of spiritual maturity.
Being born is not enough. You have to grow up. Being saved is not enough. You have to grow up.
Birth is a state of incompleteness. Our ultimate goal in life is to become complete, and that is what 'perfection' in our passage means. It is a state of completion, a state of coming together, to achieve a goal that only a state of cooperation can achieve (that goal which cannot be achieved by one component on its own), to consummate a relationship.
Faith alone cannot achieve maturity. Works alone cannot achieve maturity.
Only the cooperation of the two (belief and actions), can achieve the maximum in ones spiritual life.
Abraham demonstrated this in his obedience. Abraham did not do penance, did not feel sorry for himself, did not come up with his own ideas as to how he could please God. Abraham studied the scriptures as they existed in his day. He believed what he studied. And, he applied his beliefs to his everyday life.
God pushed his beliefs to the maximum, by testing his obedience.
This was a unique test, as God gave us all an example of His own willingness to sacrifice His only Son, in behalf of us. And Abraham had only the one son, who meant everything in the world to him. Offering his only son was the greatest and most difficult thing that Abraham could possibly have done in his life.
Abraham could have said no, but his love and obedience, and trust in God, was so great, that he unhesitatingly obeyed. Abraham even told his wife, when she asked where they were going, 'We are going to offer a sacrifice and 'we' will return.' Abraham trusted God to solve this situation.
Abraham knew the laws of society. 'Thou shalt not murder.' So, as God was giving us all a lesson, Abraham knew that even God would not commit a sin. That is the degree of Abraham's trust.
We must combine our faith with immeasurable trust, especially when we face obstacles in our life. And especially when we face problems that could very well take our life, health, property, and so forth.
God raises us up intending what is best for each one of us. 'Do you believe that?' is your first question. And then when you actually face a decision, whether it be something simple like giving, or whether it be something dramatic, like losing your health, how will you respond to the obligations that God expects of you?
Most people, repeat, most people, fail in the little things. If you fail to obey God in the little things, then how could you possibly expect to obey God in the big things? How can you expect blessings of any significance, if you are unwilling to make your own sacrifices, regardless of what they might be?
Most kids want their allowance, but without cleaning up their room. That is something simple. And unfortunately, most believers do the same thing in their spiritual life. They want things, but without having to obey. After all, isn't it easier to simply ignore Gods mandates?
Is it so difficult to trust that God will provide, replace, or enhance whatever you must give up in life?
