"Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:" Psalm 12:1-3

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts... For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old,
-2 Peter 3:3-5

Skeptic's Argument: One who scoffs at God's Word.

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory;
-Romans 4:2

This section suggests that Abraham was not justified by work, but the next section says he was.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
-James 2:21

This is an obvious contradiction, therefore the Bible is wrong.

Bible-Reader's Answer: One who takes God's Word seriously.

People who don't take the Bible seriously typically don't finish reading the verses they put under scrutiny.

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
-Romans 4:2

There are two types of justification; one before God, and the other before men. Man always seeks to justify himself and make excuses with the rest of mankind.

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
-Luke 16:15

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;
-Romans 2:15

Men might appear to do good works, and therefore be justified in front of their fellow man, but when it comes to God, only faith will give us justification. For example, Mother Teresa was held in high esteem by the world, but she did not believe on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and though she was justified before men, she was not justified before God, and did not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
(Read "Was Mother Teresa a Christian?" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)

The Wages of Sin
(Read "Corruptions of Christianity: Catholicism" here at creationliberty.com for more details.)

When men do works to try and earn entrance to heaven, they are attempting to work off a debt that cannot be paid by works. Entrance to heaven only comes by a gift. The Bible teaches us that works will never get us into heaven, but also that faith without works is not real faith.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
-James 2:20-21

And we keep reading, we'll see clearly what this means.

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
-James 2:22

Thus, faith is demonstrated by the works which are done as a RESULT of faith, not works done as a debt payment you have to work off.

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
-James 2:22-23

And the next verse of Romans says the same thing.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
-Romans 4:3

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. We have to take the Bible seriously, and then we can understand it.

Both verses support one another. Both are correct.

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