James 2:23 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

And the Scripture was fulfilled; this illustrious instance of Abraham's obedience did so clearly evidence the sincerity of his faith, that it did most plainly appear, that what the Scripture said of him, it spoke most truly, viz. that he did indeed believe God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Things are said to be fulfilled when they are most clearly manifested. As those words, Psalms 2:7: This day have I begotten thee, are said to be fulfilled at Christ's resurrection, Acts 13:32,33; not that he was then first begotten of the Father, but that he was then in a glorious manner declared to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead, Romans 1:4. So here Abraham's offering up his son being the evident discovery of his faith, it did by that appear, that the Scripture report of him was true, that he believed God, & c.: he did believe before, and his faith was imputed to him before, but it was never so fully made known, as by this so high an act of obedience. It was imputed unto him for righteousness; viz. as apprehending Christ in the promise. Faith is said to be imputed for righteousness, Romans 4:3-6, as being the instrument or means of applying Christ's righteousness, by which elsewhere we are said to be justified, Romans 3:24,25 Romans 5:19 2 Corinthians 5:21 Philippians 3:9. And he was called the Friend of God; either he was the friend of God; to be called, sometimes times implies as much as to be, Isaiah 48:8; or properly, he was called, 2 Chronicles 20:7 Isaiah 41:8; and that not only on the account of God's frequent appearances to him, conversing with him, revealing secrets to him, Genesis 18:17,18 John 15:15, and entering into covenant with him; but especially his renewing the covenant with him upon the sacrificing of his son, and confirming it by oath, and thereby, as it were, admitting him into a nearer degree of friendship, Genesis 22:16, &c.