deeper at every step. The final thrust must have come when Isaac turned his questioning

eyes and said, "My Father." The faith of Abraham wavered no longer. Abraham had

received Isaac as from the dead, and his faith accounted that God was able to raise him up

even from the dead (Heb. 11: 19). The altar was built, the son was bound, the knife was

raised, and then came the voice of the Lord Himself out of heaven saying, "Abraham,

Abraham"! With what delight must the God of Abraham have uttered the words, "Now I

know that thou fearest God." The Lord had more to say to Abraham, and the second time

the angel of the Lord calls to Abraham and tells him that the Lord had said, "By Myself

have I sworn, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine

only one, that in blessing I will bless thee," &100: Let it be observed with attention that

here are circumstances that differ from the record of Abraham's faith as given in Gen. 15:

There it was a righteousness imputed to him that worketh not but believed, here in

Gen. 22:, it is a blessing of the highest type given, "for because thou hast done this

thing," and it cannot be said that works are not in view. Abraham at length has walked

before God and has been "perfected."

In Heb. 5: 11-14 two classes of believers are brought before us. The one class "dull

of hearing" who had remained "babes," and were "unskillful in the word of

righteousness." The word "unskillful" is most important. It is literally untempted. The

others were "of full age"--literally perfect, and not only had senses (as a babe has them),

but had "senses exercised." Heb. 6: leads on from this. After urging the believer to go

on unto perfection, the Apostle refers again to those who were "dull of hearing," for the

word "slothful" in Heb. 6: 12 is the same translated "dull" in Heb. 5: This dullness or

sloth has reference to "work and labour of love," "diligence to the full assurance of hope

unto the end,"  "followers of them who through faith and patience INHERIT

PROMISES" (verses 10-12), then comes the reference to Gen. 22: with its great

example of a tempted and perfected saint. Verse 15 concludes, "And so, after he had

patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

Heb. 11: is full of those who were "perfected" in the same way. Abraham's great trial

comes again to view (verses 17-19), and the list closes with those who through

faith. . . . worked righteousness, obtained promises." Rom. 4: 4, 5, dealing with

Abraham's faith as set forth in Gen. 15:, denies works a place, but the same word is used

in Heb. 11: 33 when dealing with the righteousness that is the fruit, the finished thing,

the result of having been "perfected." James in his epistle deals with the same aspect of

truth.  He opens with the exhortation to "count it all joy when ye fall into divers

temptations," and his reason is the same as that of "Hebrews"--it has a "perfecting"

work. He, moreover, says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is

tried he shall receive the crown of life." Chapter 2: 17-26 deals with the question of

"faith without works." It may be set out as follows:--

A1 | 17. Faith without works is dead.

B1 | 18, 19. Faith and works. Example, Demons.

A2 | 20. Faith without works is barren (R.V.).

B2 | 21-25. Faith and works. Example, Abraham and Rahab.

A3 | 26. Faith without works is dead.