What then shall we say that Abraham, 1our forefather aaccording to the flesh, has found?
2For if Abraham was justified 1by works, he has something to boast about, but anot 2before God.
3For what does the Scripture say? " aABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
4Now to the one who aworks, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
5But to the one who does not work, but abelieves in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
6just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7" aBLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
8" aBLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT bTAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
9Is this blessing then on 1 athe circumcised, or on 2the uncircumcised also? For bwe say, " cFAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
10How then was it credited? While he was 1circumcised, or 2uncircumcised? Not while 1circumcised, but while 2uncircumcised;
11and he areceived the sign of circumcision, ba seal of the righteousness of the faith which 1he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be cthe father of dall who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
12and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which 1he had while uncircumcised.
13For athe promise to Abraham or to his 1descendants bthat he would be heir of the world was not 2through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14For aif those who are 1of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
15for athe Law brings about wrath, but bwhere there is no law, there also is no violation.
16For this reason it is 1by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with agrace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ball the 2descendants, not only to 3those who are of the Law, but also to 3 cthose who are of the faith of Abraham, who is dthe father of us all,
17(as it is written, " aA FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, bwho gives life to the dead and 1 ccalls into being dthat which does not exist.
18In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become aa father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, " bSO SHALL YOUR 1DESCENDANTS BE."
19Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now aas good as dead since bhe was about a hundred years old, and cthe deadness of Sarah's womb;
20yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, agiving glory to God,
21and abeing fully assured that bwhat God had promised, He was able also to perform.
22Therefore aIT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
23Now anot for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
24but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those awho believe in Him who braised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25He who was adelivered over because of our transgressions, and was braised because of our justification.