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1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
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2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
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3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
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4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
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5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
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6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
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7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
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8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
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9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
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10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
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12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
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13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
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14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
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15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
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16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might 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,
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17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
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18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
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19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
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20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
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21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
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22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
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23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
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24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
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25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
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- 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
- 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
- 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
- 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
- 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
- 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
- 7 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
- 8 “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
- 9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
- 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
- 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
- 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
- 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
- 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
- 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
- 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
- 17 (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.
- 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”
- 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
- 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
- 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
- 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
- 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,
- 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,
- 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
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