Genesis 12:1-3; 15:6; 22:1
Abraham was not declared righteous by an act of obedient faith, He was declared righteous on account of his simple faith in the promise of God, however, this saving faith that He demonstrated was an obedient faith. It was this obedient faith that made it possible for him to offer up his only son for sacrifice when God so demanded. The obedience in his faith was thus tested, but regarding the faith for which he was declared righteous, there was nothing relating it to obedience, it was simply faith.
It is, however, important that we take notice of some of Abraham's previous faith antecedents to confirm the claim that the faith by which he was declared righteous was not obedience based. In Genesis 12:1-3, God called Abram to leave Ur of the Chaldees, he believed and obeyed. What we see is a combination of faith and obedience, however, he was not declared righteous on account of this obedience; in Genesis 15:6, however, upon the promise that God will make his posterity as numerous as the stars of heaven, and he believed, it was accounted to him for righteousness. Clearly, this was not an act of obedience, but simple faith in the promise of God. But as was noted earlier, in Genesis 22, his faith was tested, and it was proven by his obedience, which James called good works.
John Calvin most succinctly put the matter of saving faith thus: "It is faith alone which justifies, and still the faith which justifies is not alone. Ears, feet, and hands are given to us at the same time that our eyes are, yet, it is the office of the eye alone to see. In like manner, repentance, love, obedience, are the invariable companions of faith; yet, it is faith alone for which claim the power and faculty of justifying."
Abraham was not declared righteous by an act of obedient faith, He was declared righteous on account of his simple faith in the promise of God, however, this saving faith that He demonstrated was an obedient faith. It was this obedient faith that made it possible for him to offer up his only son for sacrifice when God so demanded. The obedience in his faith was thus tested, but regarding the faith for which he was declared righteous, there was nothing relating it to obedience, it was simply faith.
It is, however, important that we take notice of some of Abraham's previous faith antecedents to confirm the claim that the faith by which he was declared righteous was not obedience based. In Genesis 12:1-3, God called Abram to leave Ur of the Chaldees, he believed and obeyed. What we see is a combination of faith and obedience, however, he was not declared righteous on account of this obedience; in Genesis 15:6, however, upon the promise that God will make his posterity as numerous as the stars of heaven, and he believed, it was accounted to him for righteousness. Clearly, this was not an act of obedience, but simple faith in the promise of God. But as was noted earlier, in Genesis 22, his faith was tested, and it was proven by his obedience, which James called good works.
John Calvin most succinctly put the matter of saving faith thus: "It is faith alone which justifies, and still the faith which justifies is not alone. Ears, feet, and hands are given to us at the same time that our eyes are, yet, it is the office of the eye alone to see. In like manner, repentance, love, obedience, are the invariable companions of faith; yet, it is faith alone for which claim the power and faculty of justifying."
Toni
