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Abraham's Justification by Faith

¹ What then shall we say that Abraham, ^(F1)our forefather ^(C1)according to the flesh, has found?² For if Abraham was justified ^(F1)by works, he has something to boast about; but ^(C1)not ^(F2)before God.³ For what does the Scripture say? "^(C1)ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."⁴ Now to the one who ^(C1)works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due.⁵ But to the one who does not work, but ^(C1)believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷ "^(C1)BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.

⁸ "^(C1)BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT ^(C2)TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."

⁹ Is this blessing then on ^(F1)(C1)the circumcised, or on ^(F2)the uncircumcised also? For ^(C2)we say, "^(C3)FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."¹⁰ How then was it credited? While he was ^(F1)circumcised, or ^(F2)uncircumcised? Not while ^(F1)circumcised, but while ^(F2)uncircumcised;¹¹ and he ^(C1)received the sign of circumcision, ^(C2)a seal of the righteousness of the faith which ^(F1)he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be ^(C3)the father of ^(C4)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 ^(F1)he had while uncircumcised.

¹³ For ^(C1)the promise to Abraham or to his ^(F1)descendants ^(C2)that he would be heir of the world was not ^(F2)through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.¹⁴ For ^(C1)if those who are ^(F1)of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified;¹⁵ for ^(C1)the Law brings about wrath, but ^(C2)where there is no law, there also is no violation.

¹⁶ For this reason it is ^(F1)by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with ^(C1)grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^(C2)all the ^(F2)descendants, not only to ^(F3)those who are of the Law, but also to ^(F3)(C3)those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^(C4)the father of us all,¹⁷ (as it is written: "I HAVE MADE YOU ^(C1)A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS") in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, ^(C2)who gives life to the dead and ^(C3)calls into being ^(C4)things that do not exist.¹⁸ In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become ^(C1)a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "^(C2)SO SHALL YOUR ^(F1)DESCENDANTS BE."¹⁹ Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now ^(C1)as good as dead since ^(C2)he was about a hundred years old, and ^(C3)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, ^(C1)giving glory to God,²¹ and ^(C1)being fully assured that ^(C2)what God had promised, He was able also to perform.²² Therefore ^(C1)IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.²³ Now ^(C1)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, to us ^(C1)who believe in Him who ^(C2)raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,²⁵ He who was ^(C1)delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was ^(C2)raised because of our justification.