Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Without works, our faith remains something abstract, intangible and unrealized. When our faith is tried, it is through actions that our faith is manifest. Indeed faith may exist in ones heart, but it cannot be perfected until we act on that faith. Faith should be the driving factor in our lives if it is to be perfected.
Abraham is the perfect example. He obviously believed in God before the command to sacrifice Isaac came. But it is really his reaction to the command that proved and solidified his faith. Acts of faith bring us closer to God. The acts of Abraham were the factor that brought him to be called the friend of God!
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