1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found
according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has
something to boast about, but not toward God. 3 For what does the
Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as
grace, but as debt. 5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who
justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. 6 Even as
David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness
apart from works,
7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
Whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with
sin.”
9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the
uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for
righteousness. 10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or
in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 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 those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness
might also be accounted to them. 12 The father of circumcision to those
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. 13 For the
promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn’t
through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those
who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of
no effect. 15 For the law works wrath, for where there is no law, neither
is there disobedience. 16 For 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, “I have made
you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he
believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not,
as though they were. 18 Who 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 will your seed be.” 19 Without being weakened in faith, he
didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a
hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet, looking to
the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through
faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what he had
promised, he was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it also was “reckoned
to him for righteousness.” 23 Now it was not written that it was accounted
to him for his sake alone, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be
accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our
justification.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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