Abraham's righteousness

Luther writing against, fides formata, or faith formed by love. As note 17 states on this page Luther is arguing against the Scholastics who said "it is not true faith until and unless love is present."

What does this mean and what is the point?

It means that Luther is herein emphasizing the right understanding of faith. Note especially, "God speaks, and Abraham believes what God is saying." To understand faith in the way of the scholastics, is to make faith dependent on man's actions. Rather, rightly understood, faith is the free gift of God (Eph 2:8-10) and thus centered in God, not man....

AELW3:21

"In this passage no mention is made of any preparation for grace, of any faith formed through works, or of any preceding disposition. This, however, is mentioned: that at that time Abraham was in the midst of sins, doubts, and fears, and was exceedingly troubled in spirit.

How, then, did he obtain righteousness? In this way: God speaks, and Abraham believes what God is saying. Moreover, the Holy Spirit comes as a trustworthy witness and declares that this very believing or this very faith is righteousness or is imputed by God Himself as righteousness and is regarded by Him as such."

and

AELW 3:22

?For righteousness is given to Abraham not because he performs works but because he believes. Nor is it given to faith as a work of ours; it is given because of God’s thought, which faith lays hold of."