The Example of Abraham

41 What then shall we say that Abraham , our forefather according to the flesh , has found ? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works , he has something to boast about , but not before God . 3 For what does the Scripture say ? " ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD , AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS ." 4 Now to the one who works , his wage is not credited as a favor , but as what is due . 5 But to the one who does not work , but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly , his faith is credited as righteousness , 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works : 7 " BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN , AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED . 8 " BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE Lord WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ."

9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised , or on the uncircumcised also ? For we say , " FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS ." 10 How then was it credited ? While he was circumcised , or uncircumcised ? Not while circumcised , but while uncircumcised ; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision , a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised , so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised , that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision , but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised .

The Promise Realized through Faith

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not 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 nullified ; 15 for the Law brings about wrath , but where there is no law , there also is no violation . 16 For this reason it is by faith , in order that it may be in accordance with grace , so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants , not only to those who are of the Law , but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham , who is the father of us all ,

17 (as it is written , " A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed , even God , who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist . 18 In hope against hope he believed , so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken , " SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body , now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old , and the deadness of Sarah's womb ; 20 yet , with respect to the promise of God , he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith , giving glory to God , 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised , He was able also to perform . 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS .

23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also , to whom it will be credited , as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead , 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions , and was raised because of our justification .

31 Then what advantage has the Jew ? Or what is the benefit of circumcision ? 2 Great in every respect . First of all , that they were entrusted with the oracles of God . 3 What then ? If some did not believe , their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God , will it? 4 May it never be! Rather , let God be found true , though every man be found a liar , as it is written , " THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS , AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED ." 5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God , what shall we say ? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous , is He? ( I am speaking in human terms .) 6 May it never be! For otherwise , how will God judge the world ? 7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory , why am I also still being judged as a sinner ? 8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say ), " Let us do evil that good may come "? Their condemnation is just .

There Is None Righteous

9 What then ? Are we better than they? Not at all ; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin ; 10 as it is written , " THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS , NOT EVEN ONE ; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS , THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD ; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE , TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS ; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD , THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE ." 13 " THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE , WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING ," " THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS "; 14 " WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS "; 15 " THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD , 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS , 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN ." 18 " THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES ."

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says , it speaks to those who are under the Law , so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God ; 20 because by the works of the Law no e flesh will be justified in His sight ; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin .

Righteousness through Faith

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested , being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets , 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe ; for there is no distinction ; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God , 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus ; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith . This was to demonstrate His righteousness , because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed ; 26 for the demonstration , I say, of His righteousness at the present time , so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus . 27 Where then is boasting ? It is excluded . By what kind of law ? Of works ? No , but by a law of faith . 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law . 29 Or is God the God of Jews only ? Is He not the God of Gentiles also ? Yes , of Gentiles also , 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one . 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith ? May it never be! On the contrary , we establish the Law .