Romans 4

Abraham Justified by Faith

4What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor, ^nohas found? ²If Abraham was justified ^pby works, ^qhe has something to brag about—but not before God. ^r3For what does the Scripture say?

Abraham believed God,

and it was credited to him for righteousness. ^st

⁴Now to the one who works, ^upay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. ⁵But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous, ^vwhis faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

⁶Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works:

⁷How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven

and whose sins are covered!

⁸How joyful is the man

the Lord will never charge with sin! ^xy

Abraham Justified before Circumcision

⁹Is this blessing only for the circumcised, ^zthen? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. ^ab10In what way then was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. ¹¹And he received the sign of circumcision ^cas a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith ^dewhile still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father ^fof all who believe ^gbut are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. ¹²And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.

The Promise Granted through Faith

¹³For the promise to Abraham ^hor to his descendants that he would inherit the world ⁱwas not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ^j14If those who are of the law are heirs, ^kfaith is made empty and the promise is canceled. ¹⁵For the law produces wrath. ^lAnd where there is no law, ^mthere is no transgression.

¹⁶This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, ⁿto guarantee it to all the descendants ^o—not only to those who are of the law ^pbut also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all ¹⁷in God’s sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. ^qrHe believed in God, who gives life to the dead ^sand calls ^tthings into existence that do not exist. ^u18He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations ^vwaccording to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. ^xy19He considered ^zhis own body to be already dead ^a(since he was about 100 years old) ^band also considered the deadness of Sarah’s womb, ^cwithout weakening in the faith. ²⁰He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ^d21because he was fully convinced ^ethat what He had promised He was also able to perform. ^f22Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. ^gh23Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, ⁱ²⁴but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him ^jwho raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ^k25He was delivered up for ^lour trespasses ^mand raised for ⁿour justification. ^op