HI FREAK!
That was a nice try at explaining how Abraham was justified, but I can see you need a little help with the subject of works. Allow me!
You cited Rom. 4:2-4, but you didn't cite Jas. 2:21-23, why didn't you? I suspect the reason you didn't cite the passage in James is because it directly contradicts your belief about faith and works. And, in keeping with your faulty approach in applying the scriptures, you simply ignore James' teaching on the subject, or give it lesser regard than Paul's, and your belief on faith/works is left intact.
Look at the 2 passages; first Rom. 4:2-5:
Rom. 4:2-5 -- "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.' Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."
First of all, Paul's comments about "works" in Rom. 4 are set in the context of the OLD LAW (look back up only a few verses at 3:31). So we need to understand that the "works" Paul speaks of in Rom. 4, that did NOT justify Abraham, were as works of the Law - "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." (Rom. 3:31) Again, Paul was speaking of works as how they would be "counted" to Abraham as works done under "the law." The works themselves would not, and COULD not, save or justify him AS WORKS OF "THE LAW."
Now for the passage you left out, Freak! James meticulously explains how Abraham's works did in fact justify him! And there is NO contradiction between what Paul said and what James says, watch and you'll see why:
Jas. 2:21-23 -- "Was not Abraham our father JUSTIFIED BY WORKS when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that FAITH WAS ACTIVE ALONG WITH HIS WORKS, AND FAITH WAS COMPLETED BY HIS WORKS; and the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness...."
What Paul was saying about Abraham's works was - the works themselves - when performed UNDER THE LAW - could not have saved or justified Abraham, as though by the works he did God OWED Abraham his salvation.
On the other hand, Abraham's life - and his faith - were continually characterized by his uncompromised obedience to God's every word... even to offering up his only son on an altar until God stayed his hand from taking his son's life. It was that obedience that made God so well-pleased with Abraham - and his WORKS that accompanied that OBEDIENCE were what JUSTIFIED Abraham before God --- because his WORKS were the PROOF and the EVIDENCE of his OBEDIENCE to God. That is EXACTLY what James is saying - "Was not Abraham our father JUSTIFIED BY WORKS when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?"
Now watch this! You always portray faith and works as a dichotomy, mutually exclusive of each other. But that is NOT how the New Testament portrays saving faith, watch:
"By FAITH Abraham OBEYED when he was called to go out to a place...And he WENT OUT not knowing where he was going... "By FAITH Abraham, when he was tested, OFFERED UP Isaac...." (Heb. 11:8, 17)
Notice that the word of God equates "faith" with obedience - and exemplifies the WORKS of that obedience to show EXACTLY what KIND of faith God requires for that faith to be acceptable to Him!
What all this is saying is: One cannot be saved by works, but neither can one be saved without works! Because works are the PROOF of our OBEDIENCE to God and OBEDIENCE is what saves us - "And he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him" (Heb. 5:9)!
