Therefore we conclude
This is the conclusion from the premises, the sum total of the
whole account:
that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the
law.
The subject of justification is, "man", not in opposition to
angels; nor does it design the Jew against the Gentile, though
some have so thought; but the apostle names neither Jew nor
Gentile, but "man", to show that Christ's righteousness is unto
all, and every man, that believes, be he who he will; and is to
be understood indefinitely, that every man that is justified is
justified by faith. The means is "by faith", not habitually or
actually considered; that is, either as an habit and principle
infused into us, or as an act performed by us; but either
organically, as it is a means of receiving Christ's
righteousness; or objectively, as it denotes Christ the object of
it: and all this is done "without works", of any sort; not by a
faith which is without works, for such a faith is dead, and of no
avail; but by faith without works joined to it, in the affair of
justification; or by the righteousness of Christ imputed by God
the Father, without any consideration of them, and received by
faith, and relied upon by the believer, without any regard unto
them.