Romans

Abraham Justified by Faith

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?

2If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.

5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven,whose sins are covered.

8Blessed is the manwhose sin the Lord will never count against him.”

9Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

10In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.

11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Abraham Receives the Promise

13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

19Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.

20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

21being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

23Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

24but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?

2For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

3For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

4Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.

5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

6Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

7saying,Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.

8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.

9Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.

10How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:

11and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;

12and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.

13For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.

14For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:

15for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

16For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

17(as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.

18Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

20yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,

21and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;

24but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

25who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.