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Abraham was certainly justified by faith thirty years before he offered Isaac on the altar
before the Lord (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:9). When he was justified by faith, it was before
God. When he offered Isaac, he was justified before men. His act of unwavering trust and
faith in the Lord was a testimony of stability before the world. The testimony was not that
he was offering Isaac, but that the Lord would rescue his son and replace him with another
sacrifice. Deliverance is the testimony, not human sacrifice. And even though Abraham had
never heard of someone being raised from the dead, he was so sure of the Lord’s promise
that he knew God would raise Isaac from the dead if he did kill him (Hebrews 11: 17‐19).

Hebrews 11 is a list of those who were justified before men when they acted on their faith.
So it is not only a list of those people who were full of faith, but of their accompanying
works. Abraham’s works, as well as the works of others found in Hebrews 11 were not a
proof of the faith, but an outward display, a visible witness of Jesus Christ.

Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made
perfect?

Seest thou how faith wrought with (sunergei: worked along side) his works, and by works
was faith made perfect (eteleiothe: matured, brought to its ultimate goal)?

James says, “Do you see?” Abraham did something that could be seen. These people
needed to do something that could be seen. By Abraham’s actions, a lesson was taught to
the Jerusalem congregation. By the actions of the saints in James’s church, the people of
Jerusalem should see faith in action and, as a result, want to accept Jesus as their Savior.
These actions are said by James to work alongside of faith to bring faith to its ultimate
conclusion or goal. The ultimate goal is to be seen before men (Matthew 5:14‐16). This
brings the believer into the maturity God wants him to have. Without works before men,
faith cannot be brought into full maturity. The Word builds faith (Romans 10:17). Works
matures faith.

Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was
imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed
(logizomai: counted, calculated) unto him for righteousness; and he was called the Friend
of God.

In Genesis 15:6, when Abraham offered Isaac on the altar, his righteousness came into full
maturity as his actions work alongside of his faith toward the common goal. Before this
time, Abraham was seen as righteous just as any believer was, but now he had a special
position with God. He was already a servant, but now he was a friend (John 15:15).
A hearer of the Word is a child of God or a servant of God. A doer of the Word is a friend of
God (John 15:14). Abraham did not seek after God to make him his friend. Quite the
opposite, God sought after Abraham desiring to make him His friend. The same is true today
as we become workers before men; and those of us who show the world His Son through
our lives, God calls us friends.