Justifcation as a Process
Three Times When Abraham Was Justified
- Romans 4:1-5 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (referring to Genesis 15) 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
- Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (occurred in Genesis 12)
- James 2:20-22: "O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? (referring to Genesis 22:9-12) You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did."
Was Abraham justified once and for all when he left his home in Genesis 12 (per Hebrews 11:8), or many years later when he made a covenant with God in Genesis 15 (per Romans 4:3), still many years later when he offered up Jacob (Genesis 22 per James 2:20-22)
The answer is that Paul and James understood and taught that Abraham not justified once, but lived a life through which his decisions contributed to the process of his being justified.