1What then shall we say that our father Abraham has found with respect to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has a basis for boasting, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness." 4Now to the one who works, the reward is not reckoned according to grace; rather, it is reckoned as a debt. 5But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness; 6Even as David also declares the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness separate from works:

7"Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute any sin."

9Now then, does this blessedness come upon the circumcision only, or also upon the uncircumcision? For we are saying that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. 10In what condition therefore was it imputed? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11And afterwards he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had in the condition of uncircumcision, that he might become the father of all those who believe, though they have not been circumcised, in order that the righteousness of faith might also be imputed to them; 12And that he might become the father of the circumcision--not to those who are of the circumcision only, but also to those who walk in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had during his uncircumcision.

13For the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, was not given through law; rather, it was through the righteousness of faith; 14Because if those of the law be the heirs, then faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. 15For the law works out wrath; because where no law is, there is no transgression.

16For this reason it is of faith, in order that it might be by grace, to the end that the promise might be certain to all the seed--not to the one who is of the law only, but also to the one who is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17(Exactly as it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations.") before God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not as though they are; 18And who against hope believed in hope, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall your seed be." 19And he, not being weak in the faith, considered not his own body, already having become dead, being about one hundred years old, nor did he consider the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20And he did not doubt the promise of God through unbelief; rather, he was strengthened in the faith, giving glory to God; 21For he was fully persuaded that what He has promised, He is also able to do. 22As a result, it was also imputed to him for righteousness. 23But it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24Rather, it was also written for our sakes, to whom it shall be imputed --to those who believe in Him Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offenses and was raised for our justification.