What then
shall we say
that Abraham
, 1our forefather
aaccording
to the flesh
, has found
?
For if Abraham
was justified
1by works
, he has
something
to boast
about
, but anot 2before
God
.
For what does the Scripture
say
? " aABRAHAM
BELIEVED
GOD
, AND IT WAS CREDITED
TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
."
Now to the one who aworks
, his wage
is not credited
as a favor
, but as what
is due
.
But to the one who does not work, but abelieves
in Him who justifies
the ungodly
, his faith
is credited
as righteousness
,
just as David
also
speaks
of the blessing
on the man
to whom
God
credits
righteousness
apart
from works
:
" aBLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE
LAWLESS
DEEDS
HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
, AND WHOSE
SINS
HAVE BEEN COVERED
.
" aBLESSED IS THE MAN
WHOSE
SIN
THE LORD
WILL NOT bTAKE
INTO ACCOUNT
."
Is this blessing
then
on 1 athe circumcised
, or
on 2the uncircumcised
also
? For bwe say
, " cFAITH
WAS CREDITED
TO ABRAHAM
AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
."
How then
was it credited
? While he was 1circumcised
, or
2uncircumcised
? Not while 1circumcised
, but while 2uncircumcised
;
and 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,
and 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
.
For 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
.
For aif those
who are 1of the Law
are heirs
, faith
is made
void
and the promise
is nullified
;
for athe Law brings
about
wrath
, but bwhere
there is no
law
, there also is no
violation
.
For 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
,
(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
.
In 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."
Without 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
;
yet, with respect
to the promise
of God
, he did not waver
in unbelief
but grew
strong
in faith
, agiving
glory
to God
,
and abeing fully assured
that bwhat
God had promised
, He was able
also
to perform
.
Therefore aIT WAS ALSO
CREDITED
TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
.
Now anot for his sake
only
was it written
that it was credited
to him,
but for our sake also
, to whom
it will
be credited
, as those
awho believe
in Him who braised
Jesus
our Lord
from the dead
,
He who was adelivered
over because
of our transgressions
, and was braised
because
of our justification
.