Devotionals by Raul Ries
THURSDAY July 16, 2026
Faith Made Perfect
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
James 2:21-24
James saw the evidence of faith and works in the life of Abraham. He believed that God would give him and his wife, Sarah, a child in their old age. God said of Abraham’s faith: And he [Abraham] believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).
Later, God tested Abraham. He told him to take Isaac, his only son of promise, and sacrifice him on Mount Moriah. Notice, Abraham stepped out by faith. He saddled his donkey and took his son on a three-day journey to Mount Moriah. When questioned by his son about the sacrifice, Abraham said: “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burned offering.”
Once Abraham arrived at the place God told him, he bound his son and laid him on the altar. When Abraham was about to slay his son, the Lord called to him from heaven and told him not to harm his son. When Abraham looked, there was a ram caught in the thicket. God did provided a sacrifice. When Abraham’s faith was tested, he obeyed God and showed the evidence of true works (Genesis 22). Incredibly, 2000 years later, on the very same mountain––Mount Moriah––God provided His Son Jesus Christ to be the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the whole world (John 1:29). Amazing!
What James was emphasizing in the test Abraham faced was that his works showed his genuine faith in God. Again, in examining our own lives, do we show evidence of works accomplished through faith? People can call themselves Christians, carry a Bible, and confess Jesus Christ, but if they do not have true faith and works, it is all in vain.
The saints of God are sealed inwardly with faith, but outwardly with good works.
~John Boys~
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About Raul Ries
Raul Ries is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs and President of Somebody Loves You Ministries. After his miraculous conversion in 1971, Raul began to read and study the Bible extensively even though he had a limited education. In 1974 he began a home Bible study with seven other committed individuals. Soon, he started to preach and counsel youth during the noon hour at his former high school, Baldwin Park High. Calvary Chapel West Covina grew out of Raul's home fellowship, as well as his Kung-Fu studio, and was soon meeting weekly at an old converted Safeway store. In 1993, the congregation moved to Diamond Bar and occupied a 101,000 square-foot corporate building on 28 acres. Calvary Chapel Golden Springs (as it is now called) draws between 10,000 - 12,000 in attendance weekly.
Author of several books, including Fury to Freedom (the story of his early life and dramatic conversion), Raul Ries has also produced three films: Fury to Freedom (feature film dramatization of the book); A Quiet Hope (a riveting and stirring documentary detailing seven soldier's accounts of the Vietnam War and its aftermath); and A Venture in Faith (a documentary of the history of the Calvary Chapel movement).
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