Romans 4

The Illustration of Justification

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh,t has discovered regarding this matter?t2 For if Abraham was declared righteoust by the works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God.3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was creditedtto him as righteousness.”s4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.t

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous,t his faith is credited as righteousness.

6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessedtare those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed is the onetagainst whom the Lord will never counttsin.”s
9 Is this blessednesst then fort the circumcisions or also fort the uncircumcision? For we say, “faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”s10 How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised!11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised,t so that he would becomet the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised,t that they too could have righteousness credited to them.

12 And he is also the father of the circumcised,t who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised.t
13 For the promises to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.14 For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified.t15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgressiont either.16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace,t with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham,t who is the father of us all17 (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”).ts He is our fathert in the presence of God whom he believed – the God whot makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.t18 Against hope Abrahamt believedt in hope with the result that he became the father of many nationss according to the pronouncement,t “so will your descendants be.”s19 Without being weak in faith, he considereds his own body as deads (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.20 Het did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.21 He wast fully convinced that what Godt promised he was also able to do.

22 So indeed it was credited to Abrahamt as righteousness.
23 But the statement it was credited to himt was not written only for Abraham’st sake,24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25 Het was given overts because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake oft our justification.s

Romans 4

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.3 For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.6 Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,7 saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.

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

9 Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.10 How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:11 and 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;12 and 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.13 For 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.14 For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:15 for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.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 all17 (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.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 shall thy seed be.19 And 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;20 yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.22 Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;24 but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.