Abraham Justified by Faith
(Hebrews 11:8–19)

1What, then, shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? 2For, if Abraham was justified by works, he has ground of boasting, but not toward God. 3For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness." 4Now to him that works the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt; 5but to him that works not, but believes on Him Who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6Even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God reckoneth righteousness, apart from works,

7"Happy are those whose iniquities were forgiven, and whose sins were covered.

8Happy is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin."

9Does this happiness, therefore, come upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say, "Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." 10How, then, was it reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while in uncircumcision; that he might be father of all who believe while in uncircumcision, that the righteousness might be reckoned to them; 12and father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

Abraham Receives the Promise

13For, not through law, was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but it was through the righteousness of faith. 14For, if those who are of the law are heirs, faith has been made void, and the promise has been brought to nought; 15for the law works wrath; but where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17(as it has been written, "A father of many nations have I made you"), before God Whom he believed, Who maketh alive the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were; 18who, past hope, believed against hope, to the end that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your seed be." 19And, being not weakened in faith, he attentively considered his own body already dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20but, in view of the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but was made strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. 22Wherefore also it was reckoned to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned to him; 24but for ours also, to whom it will be reckoned, if we believe on Him Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered up for our trespasses, and raised for our justification.