[staysharp]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

1)As StaySharp pointed out, the bible clearly says Abraham was justified before circumcision.

2) In specific answer to your question, I would say if Abraham would have REFUSED circumcision it would have been proof that He didn't really have saving faith, so in a way, you could say that Abraham wouldn't have been justified if he had not obeyed.

But the fact that he DID obey is evidence that He had long before had a genuine repentant saving faith, which in time to come manifested itself in total submission and obedience to God.

I think the same thing applies today. I believe the sinner is justiifed by faith at repentance, but I as a human cannot know for sure if that repentance and faith is genuine. That faith should be followed by water baptism. Not as a saving work, but as evidence of true faith. If someone says they have faith but they refuse to be baptized, I believe it is legitimate to question whether or not they have faith. And if they would claim to have faith, it would certainly seem to be the type of faith James is condemning, namely dead faith.

Were justified by faith, and the faith which justifies always manifest itself in obedience to Jesus Christ.

I've been in ministry 25 years and have never met anyone claiming salvation that didn't want to be baptized. As a matter of fact, they usually ask first.