Romans 4:1-12 ▼

1 WHAT then shall we say concerning Abraham, the chief of our forefathers, who lived according to the flesh before God called him?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he had reason to be proud; but not before God.

3 For what said the scripture? Abraham believed in God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

4 But to him who works, wages are not considered as a favor but as that which is due to him.

5 And to him who works not, but only believes in him who justifies sinners, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Just as David also said about the blessedness of the man, whom God declared righteous without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are wiped away.

8 Blessed is the man whose sins God will not hold against him.

9 Now, therefore, is this blessedness on account of circumcision, or on account of uncircumcision? for we say that Abraham’s faith was accounted to him for righteousness.

10 How then was it given to him? by means of circumcision, or in uncircumcision? It was not given in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 For he received circumcision as a sign and a seal of the righteousness of his faith while he was uncircumcised: that he might become the father of all them who believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be given to them also;

12 So that the father of circumcision is not only to those who are of circumcision, but also to those who walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham while he was yet uncircumcised.