Abraham’s Justifications

The topic of justification is one that is understood in different ways by various denominations. The classic verse used by Evangelicals to show justification is a one-time process and it is by faith alone is Rom. 4:3, “Abraham believed (had faith) God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” This verse implies Abraham placed his faith in God and he was justified – a one-time event. From then on, Abraham was justified because of faith, and faith alone. This was reference to Gen. 15:6 in the life of Abraham and it was a time when Abraham was justified. Faith leads to righteousness by justification.

But is this the only time Abraham was justified? Let’s see what Scriptures say.

Heb. 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed (God) when he was called to go out to a place to receive as an inheritance ….” The next several verses all talk about Abraham’s faith and how he trusted God because of his belief in Him. This passage references Gen. 12:1-4 where Abram, before his name was changed, already placed his faith in God and followed Him. In time, this event was about 10 years before what was described in Gen. 15:6. Scriptures tell us that Abraham already had saving faith in Gen. 12. So, because of his faith and obedience to God, Abraham, using the definition of justification in Rom. 4:4, already received justification in Gen. 12 because he had faith.

James 2:21 says, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?” Again, as it says in the next few passages, Abraham was justified because of what he did by being obedient to his faith. In this case offering his son to God was cause for justification. James 2:24 sums it up, when he says, “See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Romans 4:3 states, faith is absolutely required to be justified, but so, too, is obedience to God as other passages of the Bible state.

So, the Bible says Abraham was justified when, 1) he had saving faith as Paul described in Hebrews referring to Gen. 12:1-4, 2) when he demonstrated faith in Romans 4:3 referring to Gen. 15:6 which was about 10 years later than the first time, and 3) again when James referred to Abraham being justified once again when he offered his son as a sacrifice (Gen. 22:9) which was later date.

Doesn’t the Bible tell us Abraham was justified at least three different times by God by practicing both faith and obedience?

The Bible tells us that: