Interestingly, James also used Abraham as an example to illustrate the importance of having living faith in relation to the message he proclaimed to the circumcision — "the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad" (James 1:1). James, however, specifically singled out the account when Abraham was called upon to offer his son, Isaac, upon the altar. This is significant because we know Abraham was already saved prior to this testing.
But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:20-24).
Approximately two years after Abraham was justified God gave him the covenant of circumcision (Acts 7:1-8) and changed his name from Abram to Abraham (Gen 17:5). This covenant of circumcision was what separated him from the ungodly heathen nations around him. Technically, this was the birth of the Hebrew nation, and it was not too long after this that Isaac was born.
The sign of circumcision was the seal of righteousness of the faith that Abraham had placed in God (Rom 4:11-12). Today, the seal is the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14). But clearly, the covenant of circumcision was a covenant of works (Gen 17:10-14; 26:4-5). The most obvious example of this is, every male child was to be circumcised the eighth day in order to be made a child of the covenant. Although the rite didn't save him, in Israel a male couldn't be saved if he wasn't circumcised. Circumcision gave him an opportunity to be saved. It seems to me that it was under this program and message that James wrote:
But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:20-24).
James' question, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works?" merely indicates that Abraham's works confirmed his faith. The combination of faith and works verified that Abraham's faith was a living faith, which manifested itself by works. According to James, Abraham served as a pattern to the circumcision that faith plus works were required for salvation at that time.** And what time was that? The transitional period, which ended with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.
**A few years after the Book of James was written, the Jerusalem Council was held, which concluded that Gentile believers needn't be circumcised nor keep the Mosaic law in order to be saved (Acts 15:1-21). Nothing, however, was said about whether or not Jewish believers were to remain under the law. It seems they assumed they were because no revelation had yet been given to them that they were freed from it. Also, even later in Acts 21:17-26 they were still "all zealous for the Law." Apparently the middle wall of separation between Jew and Gentile was gradually broken down.
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