1 What, then, shall we say 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 counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are counted as a debt, not as a gift. 5 But to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessedness of the person to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

9 Is this blessedness, then, for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say, “Faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.” 10 How, then, was it counted? While he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faith he had while uncircumcised. This was so that he might be the father of all who believe while uncircumcised, so that righteousness might be counted to them, 12 and the father of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while uncircumcised.

13 For the promise to Abraham or his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise nullified. 15 For the law produces wrath, but where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16 For this reason it is by faith, so that it may be according to grace and the promise may be secure for all the offspring, not only those of the law but also those of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist as though they exist. 18 Against hope, he believed in hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what had been said, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in faith, he considered his own body, as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 Yet he did not waver in unbelief regarding God’s promise, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God 21 and being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why it was counted to him as righteousness. 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom it will be counted, who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over for our trespasses and raised for our justification.