God is speaking of idolaters

Lutero said:
2….Paul already gave a very lengthy explanation on how both Jew and Gentile have failed to meet the standard of the Law

Correct.

and how all are sinners and continually fall short of God’s glory chap 3 —

Not quite. Again, that is your interpretation. Unless you claim that St. Paul contradicts himself, you need to take into account that he also says, in Ch. 5:
Romans 5:14
King James Version (KJV)
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

In order to understand what St. Paul is talking about when he says, “all have sinned” we need to correlate to the Old Testament verses to which this is making reference:
Isaiah 41:26
King James Version (KJV)
26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

Is Isaiah talking about everyone in the world? No. Here’s the proof. It is Isaiah who is speaking. Is Isaiah unfaithful and unrighteous?

Now, lets go down a few more lines:
29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

God is speaking of idolaters. Search throughout the Scriptures, this refrain is commonly made. God is referring to idolaters and fools who don’t believe in God at all, atheists.

Psalm 14:1
King James Version (KJV)
14 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

St. Paul understands the Scriptures. In addition, there are other verses which state positively that there some people who are righteous in the eyes of God:
Genesis 7:1
King James Version (KJV)
1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Psalm 69:28
King James Version (KJV)
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Psalm 72:7
King James Version (KJV)
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

Therefore, then, St. Paul would not have contradicted himself nor the other Scriptures.

that the wrath of God was only porpitiated through the faithfulness of Christ

True. Just as Moses and Abraham had faced down God’s wrath in the breach. So now, Christ, dying on the cross, ameliated the wrath of the Father towards mankind.

and that righteousness that justifies is the righteousness of/from God (not our own)

Absolutely. All good things come from God. As the Scripture says:
Philippians 2:12-13
King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvationM with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

that is gained through faith in the finished work of Christ (climaxing at His death and resurrection in behalf of the guilty) and not in any work done by man or self.

Yes. Jesus finished His work. But Scripture is clear that He left for us a job to do. See Phil 2:12 above and:
Hebrews 5:9
King James Version (KJV)
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

There are many more verses to show that we have a part to play in our own salvation and in the salvation of others:
James 5:20
King James Version (KJV)
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Paul, brought about the Abrahamic narrative to portray this truth. I find it hard to believe in exegeting 4:5 that Abraham is not the referent here as, exegetically, vv 4-5 is the direct explaination of Paul’s usage of Gen 15:6 in this context.

I agree with you that Abraham is included in this category of “ungodly”. But I disagree with the conclusions you draw from this understanding.

Paul, in this regard, did structure the argument to mimic the flow of thought of chapter 3 (see previous post). Abraham, though regarded by Jews are perfect, was regarded by Paul as “ungodly” needing righteousness (see note 1 and note 4).

Nope. St. Paul was not saying that Abraham was not righteous. If he were, he would be contradicting God who in the very same verse says that Abraham is accounted righteous. What St. Paul means is that Abraham believed in GOD. The phrase, “who justifies the ungodly” is a Hebraic form of speech in which they redundantly say the same thing. God justifies sinners WHO REPENT OF THEIR SINS.

Go back to Romans 2:13:
Romans 2:13
King James Version (KJV)
13 ….but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Doers of the Law are accounted righteous by God, because indeed they have proven it by their works. And let us not forget what St. Paul said about the very first encounter that Abraham had with God:
Hebrews 11:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Now, if you believe in faith ALONE. And I think this is what this entire conversation has been about, then you have to admit that your own soteriology deems Abraham righteous FROM THE MOMENT that God called him.

The overall context is still the Righteousness of God that justifies the wicked by faith.

Faith proved in works.
Genesis 26:5
King James Version (KJV)
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

This will not change as Paul used the Abrahamic narrative. Abraham was not put forward as an example of having “faith” only. He is the prime example of the activity of God in justifying the condemned and guilty. God is the subject not Abraham.

They are both subject. Abraham is the subject which is described as faithful:
Romans 4:19
King James Version (KJV)
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:

God is described as the justifier of the faithful.

Even Romans 4:18-22 serves as an extended explanation of why this justification is “by faith not works” if it is “by grace”. More importantly, what kind of “faith” that justifies. What brought about the “promise” is not Abraham’s faith per se. What brought about “Isaac” is not because of anything intrinsic in Abraham (not his efforts, not his deeds not his condition but inspite of Abraham’s failures, effort and physical limitation). It was all God’s doing all along…

THAT is Catholic Teaching. Again, refer to Phil 2:12-13

Abraham’s faith recognizes that as Abraham brought nothing to the table for the promise. And that is why, faith is the only instrument that receives the promises of God even if the present reality does not correspond to that promise.

But faith is not proven by empty words. Faith is proven by actions.
Galatians 5:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

It was the perfect answer why “works” is not the instrument but faith. In other words, faith is the only proper response to apprehend what Christ did for us on Calvary and the Resurrection since it is the only response that enables us not to look at our intrinsic effort, ability and condition but God’s alone.

And therein is the difference between Catholic and Protestant.
Catholics are taught not to judge the merit of their works. This is easily proven by a response Catholics give when accosted by Evangelicals. And we are soundly reprimanded by those Evangelicals for that response. Protestants are wont to ask, “Are you saved?” To which we respond, “I don’t know. God knows.”

Protestants, who are accustomed to set aside the judgement of God and replace it with their own exalted judgement of the merit of their own faith, will look askance at us for such a response. But Scripture says:
1 Corinthians 4:2-4
King James Version (KJV)
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

But it doesn’t seem to penetrate the Protestant psyche, I have repeated it over and over and over. We do not judge our works. We leave judgement to God:
Luke 17:10
King James Version (KJV)
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

It is a very foreign concept to you, I know. Placing complete faith in your salvation on God’s judgement rather than your own. I don’t mean that facetiously. It is plain for all to see.

Protestants judge themselves saved.
Catholics leave the judgement of our salvation to God.

It is the only instrument that gives us the eyes to see the Lord’s verdict of “not guilty” fully knowing that we are “guilty” because of Christ’s Obedience (see Chap 5) in our behalf. That faith will not waiver (as Abraham’s faith did not) though assailed at some points in our life and it will cling ever more to the promise of God that those who believe in Christ will be justified because of the finished work of Christ in our behalf and not because of our intrinsic worth, efforts and condition (3:22).

You are comparing yourself to Abraham. The main difference is this. Because of his faith, Abraham worked:
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Hebrews 11:17
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Whereas, Protestants claim faith ALONE and declare they don’t have to do a thing but claim their salvation.

We’ll continue my post soon regarding “logizomai”. Right now, with all the wedding preparation, I’ll take a break.

Are you getting married? Congratulations.

Sincerely,

De Maria