Read the Bible

Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament

¹ What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather ^(F1)(C1)humanly speaking, has found? Has he obtained a favored standing?² For if Abraham was justified that is, acquitted from the guilt of his sins by works those things he did that were good, he has something to boast about, but ^(C1)not before God.³ For what does the Scripture say? "^(C1)ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN (trusted, relied on) GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIS ACCOUNT AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (right living, right standing with God)." ^(VR1)4 Now to a ^(C1)laborer, his wages are not credited as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation something owed to him.⁵ But to the one who does not work that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good, but ^(C1)believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is ^(F1)credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).⁶ And in this same way David speaks of the blessing on the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷ "^(C1)BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS ACTS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED UP and COMPLETELY BURIED.

⁸ "^(C1)BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT ^(C2)TAKE INTO ACCOUNT nor CHARGE AGAINST HIM." ^(VR1)

⁹ Is this blessing only for ^(C1)the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For ^(C2)we say, "^(C3)FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."¹⁰ How then was it credited to him? Was it after he had been circumcised, or before? Not after, but while he was uncircumcised.¹¹ He ^(C1)received the sign of circumcision, ^(C2)a seal or confirmation of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised—this was so that he would be ^(C3)the spiritual father of ^(C4)all who believe without being circumcised—so that righteousness would be credited to them,¹² and that he would be the spiritual father of those circumcised who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had before he was circumcised.

¹³ For ^(C1)the promise to Abraham or to his descendants ^(C2)that he would be heir of the world was not through observing the requirements of the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. ^{(VR1)14 (C1)}If those who are followers of the Law are the true heirs of Abraham, then faith leading to salvation is of no effect and void, and the promise of God is nullified.¹⁵ For ^(C1)the Law results in God's wrath against sin, but ^(C2)where there is no law, there is no violation of it either.

¹⁶ Therefore, inheriting the promise depends entirely on faith that is, confident trust in the unseen God, in order that it may be given as an act of ^(C1)grace His unmerited favor and mercy, so that the promise will be legally guaranteed to ^(C2)all the descendants of Abraham—not only for ^(C3)those Jewish believers who keep the Law, but also for ^(C4)those Gentile believers who share the faith of Abraham, who is ^(C4)the spiritual father of us all—¹⁷ (as it is written in Scripture, "^(C1)I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS") in the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God ^(F1)(C2)who gives life to the dead and ^(C3)calls into being ^(C4)that which does not exist. ^(VR1)18 In hope against hope Abraham believed that he would become ^(C1)a father of many nations, as he had been promised by God: "^(C2)SO numberless SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." ^(VR1)19 Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now ^(C1)as good as dead for producing children since ^(C2)he was about a hundred years old, and he considered ^(C3)the deadness of Sarah's womb. ^(VR1)20 But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, ^(C1)giving glory to God,^21 (C1)being fully convinced ^(C2)that God had the power to do what He had promised.²² Therefore ^(C1)his faith WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (right standing with God). ^(VR1)23 Now ^(C1)not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him,²⁴ but for our sake also—to whom righteousness will be credited, as those ^(C1)who believe in Him who ^(C2)raised Jesus our Lord from the dead—²⁵ who was ^(C1)betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was ^(C2)raised from the dead because of our justification our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God.