Romans 4:11–18

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. ^xy