Reformed Covenanter
Cancelled Commissioner
We must hold this doctrine and not listen to those who preach faith in Christ in such a way as to insist that we are justified not by it alone but by it in combination with our works. The sum of their teaching is that faith justifies us by the works that we do in faith. The glory of justification by faith is attributed to nothing other than the fact that it is by faith that we come to a knowledge of Christ. Here [Galatians 2:16] Paul says that it is by faith alone because he simply rejects works altogether.
His quarrel was not with people who denied the role of faith outright but with those who denied that it was sufficient to justify and save us. Paul affirms the doctrine and at the same time excludes the works of the law, from which it follows that all the praise should be ascribed to faith alone. What other works deserve to be associated with faith when no room is given to those things that are done according to the prescription of the law of God?
For the reference, see Rudolf Gwalther on justification by faith alone.
His quarrel was not with people who denied the role of faith outright but with those who denied that it was sufficient to justify and save us. Paul affirms the doctrine and at the same time excludes the works of the law, from which it follows that all the praise should be ascribed to faith alone. What other works deserve to be associated with faith when no room is given to those things that are done according to the prescription of the law of God?
For the reference, see Rudolf Gwalther on justification by faith alone.
