This excerpt is from the Preface:
For Christians schooled in the doctrine of justification by faith, faith in God’s promises becomes a bedrock upon which to build. Unfortunately, some believers place so much emphasis on a belief that God will do most of the building, if only we believe, that the edifice does not progress very far and is never quite completed. Although Abraham’s life was very different from ours, there are patterns in it that may be a great help to us today. His life provides examples of faith that should attract every Christian. In fact, he was justified by his faith (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6-9), even as we are. But his life was also marked by deeds, many of which were motivated by his faith in God’s promises to him. James’ Epistle points out “that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (James 2:22). Although God’s promises to us in the current dispensation of grace are different from those given to Abraham, even so we are called to a life of good works (Ephesians 2:10). There appears to be a universal principle in the outworking of faith for all of God’s families throughout the ages.