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

1What shall we say then that Abraham our father obtained according to the flesh? 2for if Abraham were justified by works, he hath something to boast of; but this he hath not before God: 3for what saith the scripture? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." 4Now to him that worketh the reward is not reckoned as a favor, but as a debt: 5but to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. 6As David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom: God imputeth righteousness without works, saying,

7"Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered:

8blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sin."

9Now is this blessedness upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? for we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10How then was it accounted to him? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had in uncircumcision: that he might be the father of all that believe though not circumcised, that righteousness may be imputed to them also: 12and the father of circumcision to those, who not only are of the circumcision, but also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

Abraham Receives the Promise

13For the promise made to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world, was not by the law, but by the righteousness of faith: 14for if they only that are of the law be heirs, faith is made useless, and the promise is become of no effect. 15Now the law worketh wrath; for where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16And therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that so the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but also to that which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17(as it is written, "I have made thee a father of many nations,") in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not as if they were: 18who against hope believed, with hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was said unto him, "So shall thy seed be." 19And not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, being about an hundred years old; nor the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20He hesitated not at the promise of God through unbelief: but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully persuaded, that what was promised He was able to perform: 22and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written on his account only, that it was imputed to him: 24but for our sakes also, to him it will be imputed, as we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead: 25who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.