Sermons

In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic church distorted the teaching of the Bible, particularly the doctrine of justification. The five solas serve as a contrast to the RCC's teaching. The reformers' insistence on salvation by faith alone was not novel. In today's passage, Paul reminds us of the salvation stories of Abraham and David, which testified to salvation by faith alone. The Jews of Paul's time esteemed Abraham, claiming to be his offspring. Yet, the Jew's rejection of Jesus meant that they were not truly Abraham's children. In the intertestamental period, the Jews promoted the false teaching that Abraham's justification was by works. Paul said that if this were so, the Jews would have a right to be proud of their genealogy. Paul said they had no grounds to boast. The scriptures say that Abraham believed and his belief was counted (reckoned, credited or imputed) to him as righteousness. Abraham was on the receiving end of the transaction.
Works are not mentioned; righteousness comes by faith. There are not any doers of the law because of sin. The righteous ones are not righteous by their own merit but by Christ's righteousness imputed to them. The Jews were wrong by unreasonably exalting Abraham on the basis of his works.
David also received grace as a blessing. God counts righteousness apart from works. Paul pointed to David's royal failures, including adultery and murder. God does for David what David does not deserve.
Righteousness is connected with forgiveness. Judicial righteousness is applied to Christ, who never sinned, and by His death and resurrection, that judicial righteousness is imputed to believers. It is a great blessing worthy of rejoicing. Also, faith cannot be viewd as a work that we perform, as stated in the Larger Catechism answer concerning justification. What a blessing it is to be forgiven by grace through faith.