Genesis 15:6 Discrepancy

The statement in James 2:22-24 that showed fulfillment of the statement,

:"Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness"

seems to be a contradiction. The quotation seems to be from Genesis 15:6, which was well before Genesis 22.

So, was this fulfilled in Genesis 15:6 or Genesis 22: after Abraham offered Isaac? Or was it both?

Abraham could have been accounted righteousness before circumcision and again later after circumcision. Thus making circumcision a moot point concerning justification. God could justify in either situation.

Well, we know it occurred before his circumcision.

Rom 4:9  Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 

Rom 4:10  How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 

We know faith was reckoned before Genesis 22. Circumcision did not occur until Genesis 17.

So, why was it not fulfilled until Genesis 22 according to James?

Jas 2:23  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. 

I guess there are many ways to explain the different instances that faith was imputed, but it is hard to explain away that Abraham still had some room for justification at the time he offered Isaac.

It is similar to being baptized in John and then later being baptized in Christ, progressive revelation may require progressive steps of justification. It depends upon the stage.

There are several ways to explain the difference between the three instances of Abraham's faith being imputed.

1. It shows justification can be on God's terms, based upon the situation/revelation and particular choice God makes.

2. It can be when God chooses, not all justification was at the point of belief..

3. It can be at faith of a promise or at obedience to a calling. Both are biblical. Both are New Testament. We are justified at baptism and then through an on going faith and confession.

God can choose it to be at belief of a new promise as in Genesis 15:6, or at obedience to a commandment that seemingly runs anti-thetical to a promise, requiring a belief in God's miraculous intervention as in Genesis 22:16. The question , in the New covenant, is it at faith only or obedience to a calling.

Even Genesis 15:6 had works before as Abraham left his home based upon the promise of Genesis 12. Abraham had obeyed the older promise and was receiving the new. You could say the new revelation didn't come until the older command was fulfilled.

How could Abraham be fully justified when he had not received the full promise. Revelation to Abraham was progressive.

The new revelation of Gen 15 was conditional upon obeying the general revelation of Gen 12. The revelation of Gen 17 was conditional on fulfilling Gen 15.etc

Finally in Genesis 22

Gen 22:18  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 

Righteousness of Faith was imputed in Genesis 15:6 based upon a vision, but justification wasn't fulfilled until Genesis 22:16 based upon Abraham's offering.

Imputed to him for righteousness is the same statement as:

1. for remission of sins - when Jesus spoke of his death Mathew 26:28

2. For the remission of sins - at Baptism Acts 2:38

3. For righteousness - Abraham's vision in Genesis 15:6.

Neither of the 3 were necessarily the completion of justification. All three use the same Greek word "Eis". It means toward or in the direction of.

Faith being imputed before circumcision in Genesis 15:6 was a necessary step, but not the end of the process. Genesis 15:6 says it was imputed but does not use the term justified. Sometimes we may think they are the same, but they aren't. One may go before the other.

The promise was given before circumcision, that means the promise came before any of the Law was given. Thus, the promise was not of works. The fulfillment of the promise was later.

It wasn't fulfilled until Genesis 22:16 where justification was completed.

The same can be said of us, faith can be imputed well before justification is finalized. Let's think about all that the apostles said justified us, or were part of the process.

Justified by faith  Gal. 3:24

Justified by works  James 2:24, Romans 4:3

Justified by Grace  Titus 3:7

Justified by his blood  Romans 5:9

Justified by the redemption that is in Christ  Romans 3:24

Justified by Christ  Gal. 2:17

Justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I Cor.6:11

Justified by his Spirit  I Cor. 6:11

Where did God say we are justified by only one?  Faith only? They seem to hold to only one example in Abraham's life. Even Paul recognized that Genesis 18-21 also applied. Romans 4

Rom 4:19  And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 

Rom 4:20  He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 

Rom 4:21  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 

Rom 4:22  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

This occurred after circumcision. Abraham and Ishmael were circumcised at the promise, but conception of the new child was after their circumcision.

Thus, imputation of righteousness in Genesis 18-21 was based upon ongoing belief in the seed promise of Genesis 17. It was not a one time belief, but an ongoing belief God made reference to.

It seems that with a fuller promise came a new need for justification.

It clearly says we are not justified by the works of the law. Plus it clearly says we aren't justified by faith alone. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. Faith alone is dead without works.

It really is a death blow to faith only justification when we realize the revelation and justification weren't completed for 7 more chapters, having faith for so long without justification being fulfilled. We are justified by faith, but not faith only.

Abraham's faith was recognized in Genesis 15:6, but justification wasn't recognized until Genesis 22. Thus, a long period of faith before justification was completed in an offering based in faith.