**Of course Abraham ACTED on his faith, that’s what real faith is. But it was NOT his acts that declared him righteous before God, it was his faith.**
You seem to contradict yourself in those two sentences, for you admit that acting on faith is REAL FAITH.
Grace through faith. And you just defined REAL faith.
How could Abraham boast of doing what he was told to do? “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:10
**Is He not able to know if our faith is genuine?**
Hear’s a verse to measure that by: “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother”. Matt. 12:50
That’s why obedience to Acts 2:38 is not our own works.
I gotta rest these weary bones,
Lord bless
It may only seem to be a contradiction because of the problem of separating works from faith and which brings the righteousness of God that results in salvation. Of course, true faith, faith that is alive, produces works meet for repentance. But it is NOT the works that acquires that salvation, only the grace of God through Christ can do that. When we place our trust in Christ, we are receiving Him, accepting Him and his gift. God says that is what brings salvation. AFTER we are born again through faith, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit and a new spirit nature that desires to live for God. When James says, "Faith without works is dead.", he is not contradicting other Scriptures that say we are saved by faith apart from works. Rather, he is stating that a living, vibrant, genuine faith demonstrates through works. If someone says he has faith but there are no external demonstrations of it, his old sinful ways are not left behind and he has no desire for living for God, others will look at that and conclude his faith is a dead faith. Now, notice, it doesn't say he is dead, or he is going to hell, but that his faith is dead because it produces no fruit, it is unproductive. But that is NOT saying - please "get" me here - that his works are what saves him, they can't because we are not saved by our works but by God's grace THROUGH faith.
I'm glad you have a time to rest, I hope the road isn't too bad for you right now. I know winter is not the best time to be "on the road". I hope and will pray that you take some time to ponder this essential truth. Let God's grace penetrate whatever hurdles are up there in your heart preventing you from grasping this wonderful good news:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. Titus 3:5