1What shall we say then that Abraham our father , as pertaining to the flesh , hath found ? 2For if Abraham were justified by works , he hath whereof to glory ; but not before God . 3For what saith the scripture ? Abraham believed God , and it was counted unto him for righteousness . 4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace , but of debt . 5But to him that worketh not , but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly , his faith is counted for righteousness . 6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man , unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works , 7Saying , Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven , and whose sins are covered . 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin .
The Nature of Justification
9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only , or upon the uncircumcision also ? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness . 10How was it then 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 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 : 12And 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 .
David's Testimony of Justification
13For 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 . 14For if they which are of the law be heirs , faith is made void , and the promise made of none effect : 15Because the law worketh wrath : for where no law is , there is no transgression . 16Therefore 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 , 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 .
The Promise Realized Through Faith
18Who 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 . 19And 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 Sara’s womb : 20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief ; but was strong in faith , giving glory to God ; 21And being fully persuaded that , what he had promised , he was able also to perform . 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness . 23Now it was not written for his sake alone , that it was imputed to him ; 24But for us also , to whom it shall be imputed , if 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 .