If Abraham were justified by works, could he boast before God?
If Abraham were justified by works, he could boast to men, but not before God. Scripture declares he could never glory before God, for God will never be a debtor to anyone. Justification is by faith without the deeds or works of the law, so boasting before God is excluded.
Les explains that Paul uses Abraham as an analogy in Romans chapter 4. If Abraham were justified by works—by doing something—then he could boast, which means to glory or brag. He could stop everybody on the golden strand and tell them all that he did to get there. But what does the Scripture say? He could never do it before God. God will never let anyone be a debtor to Him. If you try to work for your salvation, you are putting God in debt, telling God, “You owe it to me.” Yet justification is by faith without the deeds or works of the law.
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
More Questions
If Abraham were justified by works, would he have been able to glory and boast?
If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had grounds to glory and would naturally have become proud, able to tell people, 'look what I have done to inherit eternal life.'
Why could Abraham not boast before God even though he was a great man and famous throughout history?
Abraham had plenty in his great life and reputation with which he might boast before people, but before God he could not boast one word.
If Abraham could be justified by works, what would he have been able to glory about?
If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had ground to glory; he would have become proud and could boast about what he had done to inherit eternal life.