Justification by faith, the biblical doctrine

Romans 3:21-26 - tell us that we are justified by faith in Christ. Faith here is equated to belief.
Romans 3:31 - 'our faith establishes the law'. How? Because Christ has kept the law perfectly for us, his righteousness is imputed to us to all who believe in him. So we are considered perfect because of what Christ did for us. Also wherever we fell/fall short Christ paid for us. So justice is satisfied on both counts - we keep the law through Christ and we pay whereever we fall short through Christ. Because we walk in the Spirit of Christ in Gods sight we are Christ like. This is why all those who walk in the Spirit of Christ are not under the law. Christ was declared righteous by the Law, so all who have the Holy Spirit are considered to be righteous in Gods sight. The law was give only to the unrighteous. It wasnt for the righteous. Therefore those in Christ arent under the law. Jesus Christ has truly become 'The Lord our righteousness'

Romans 4: - uses Abraham as an example. Abraham was justified by his faith before God. It was not because of his works like circumcision. Paul mentions circumcision here to dispel the notion that some jews had, that their circumcision saves them (Acts 15:1). He even mentions David(who was already circumcised) and imputed righteousness. The 'blessedness' refered to by David is the same 'blessedness' in Gods promise to Abraham - 'in you all the nations will be blessed'. This 'blessedness' is imputed righteousness by faith. All the Gentiles who believe in Christ are considered Abrahams children. Abrahams methods of justification (Rom 4:23-24 - 'for us also') is how everyone is justified before God. Imputed righteousness by faith in Christ is what Romans 4 talks about. It doesnt talk about the necessity of seals for salvation.

Note that Abraham existed before the Law of Moses, so the law Paul was talking about was the law in general.

As noted in previous blog, Eph 2:8-10, does not differentiate between works done before one is in Christ and after one is Christ. Works are works. People can deceive themselves into saying 'acts done as a response to obedience' are different. But the scriptures doesnt differentiate between the two. Werent the Israelites being obedient to the Law when they did something according to it. And they are classified as works. In the same way works of faith are still works in Gods sight.

Also read Galatians 3. It closely parallels Romans 4.