¹What can we say that we have discovered about our ancestor Abraham? ²If Abraham had God’s approval because of something he did, he would have had a reason to brag. But he could not brag to God about it. ³What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.”

⁴When people work, their pay is not regarded as a gift but something they have earned. ⁵However, when people don’t work but believe God, the one who approves ungodly people, their faith is regarded as the basis of God’s approval. ⁶David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said,

⁷“Blessed are those whose disobedience is forgiven

and whose sins are pardoned.

⁸Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer considers sinful.”

⁹Are only the circumcised people blessed, or are uncircumcised people blessed as well? We say, “Abraham’s faith was regarded as the basis of God’s approval.” ¹⁰How was his faith regarded as the basis of God’s approval? Was he circumcised or was he uncircumcised at that time? He had not been circumcised. ¹¹Abraham’s faith was the basis of his approval by God while he was still uncircumcised. The mark of circumcision is the seal of that approval. Therefore, he is the father of every believer who is not circumcised, and their faith, too, is regarded as the basis of their approval by God. ¹²He is also the father of those who not only are circumcised but also are following in the footsteps of his faith. Our father Abraham had that faith before he was circumcised.

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