A favorite passage of many faith-only advocates is found three times in the New Testament, but their go-to is in Romans 4:3, where it states, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (cf. Gal. 3:6; Jas. 2:23). Now that is what the verse says, but here is what they claim it says, “Abraham believed God, and his belief only was accounted to him for righteousness.” They read the word “believed” and automatically insert the word “only” with it. But is that what Scripture teaches? Let’s look at the passage and then look at Abraham.
Put the passage in the context of the book. Romans begins and ends with God’s definition of faith for the book, where He emphasizes “obedience of faith” (1:5 + 16:26). Do you suppose God emphasized an obedient faith at the start and finish, but in the middle of the book “faith” was “faith only”? To ensure the reader doesn’t lose sight of obedience throughout the book, the Lord limits freedom from sin to those who “obeyed” (6:17-18), and He uses the terms “obeyed” and “believed” interchangeably in 10:16-17. The “works” in the context of 4:1-5 are those of which one may “boast” (3:27; 4:2), which will never save (cf. Eph. 2:8-9), but “works” of obedience are absolutely essential to being justified by God (Jas. 2:14-26). Note James 2:23 is the same verse quoted in the context of faith-filled works.
Now, consider the key figure under discussion—Abraham. Was Abraham justified by God for “faith only”? Some so claim. But consider the context of the verse that is quoted. Romans 4:3 (regarding Abraham being justified by his belief) is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. A good Bible student would recognize that, in Genesis 15, Abraham was not an alien sinner just then coming to God and being saved by “faith only.” Rather, the Bible is actually teaching that Abraham was being justified by God for his obedient faith!
In Genesis 12:1-3, Abraham was called by God and he “obeyed” (Heb. 11:8). Abraham was 75 years old (Gen. 12:4). In Genesis 12:6-7, Abraham built an altar to worship God. In Genesis 12:8, he moved to the mountain and built another altar to call on the Lord. After spending time in Egypt, in Genesis 13:4, Abraham came back to the altar and called on the name of the Lord. After the slaughter of the kings in chapter 14, he gave a tithe to Melchizedek and was blessed (14:18-20). Chapter 15 begins with God telling Abraham, “I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (15:1), and then promising him a son and descendants (15:2-5). Abraham’s faith had been obedient for many years. (He’s 86 years old in 16:16.)
The verse often quoted to prove “faith only” actually is in the context of a book (Romans) of faith-filled obedience and a man (Abraham) of many years of faith-filled obedience.