| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | International Standard Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1What, then, are we to say about Abraham, our human ancestor? |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2For if Abraham was justified by actions, he would have had something to boast about—though not before God. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Now to someone who works, wages are not considered a gift but an obligation. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5However, to someone who does not work, but simply believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Likewise, David also speaks of the blessedness of the person whom God regards as righteous apart from actions: |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7"How blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered! |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8How blessed is the person whose sins the Lord will never charge against him!" |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Now does this blessedness come to the circumcised alone, or also to the uncircumcised? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness." |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or uncircumcised? He had not yet been circumcised, but was uncircumcised. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Therefore, he is the ancestor of all who believe while uncircumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12He is also the ancestor of the circumcised—those who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14For if those who were given the Law are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless, |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15for the Law produces wrath. Now where there is no Law, neither can there be any violation of it. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Therefore, the promise is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all of Abraham's descendants—not only for those who were given the Law, but also for those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," just as he had been told: "This is how many descendants you will have." |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children, |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God, |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Now the words "it was credited to him" were written not only for him |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24but also for us. Our faith will be regarded in the same way, if we believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25He was sentenced to death because of our sins and raised to life to justify us. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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