Yes
Paul says for if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
that is why Abraham's faith was "counted to him as righteousness."but the words "it was counted to him" were not written for Abraham's sake alone,
but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe.
so no reason to boast
but
James says "Abraham our father justified by works"
so
according to James Abraham had a reason to boast
Thanks for posting.
The solution to the apparent dilemma is found in Romans 4 from which you quote.
I anticipate the following will clear up the apparent contradiction.
Paul's point is made clear in Romans 4:9-16
"Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,"
By the works of the law no man is justified, for no man conceived with that sin nature could keep the law, no matter how much work he put into it.
It does take work to believe. For instance, we must first be informed that Abraham was justified by his believing before we can believe that Abraham was justified by his believing. It takes work to be informed, we must listen or read, we must willfully absorb that information, that takes work, maybe not a lot of work, but work nonetheless.
For Abraham to believe that he would have a son by Sarah required that he take appropriate action on the promise, he had to have sex with Sarah believing God's promise, and not simply go through the motions with her. It took the about nine years to work that promise into fruition.
Noah believed God about the flood, therefore Noah built the ark and brought in all the animals, Noah was worthy before God told him, Noah worked because he believed God
As James points out, believing is evidenced by the works that we do.
People can go through the motions of doing the law without believing in the righteousness of the law. They could do it out of compulsion rather than love for God.
If a man believes that Jesus is lord and that God raised him from the dead, that man will have reason and motive to change at least a little of his lifestyle for a least a short time.
As Paul points out, Abe's believing was to God based on the promise given to him by God. Not on the works of the law.
Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Believing takes work to produce the fruit of believing, but that work is not the work of the law, but by the righteousness of believing.
It is righteous to believe God, and that takes work. But the law, though righteousness, could not make anyone righteous.
Galatians 3:21-22
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
atrol: