4 What shall we say then that
Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works,
he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham
believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward
not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth
on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness
of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities
are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord
will not impute sin. 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. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he
was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in
uncircumcision. 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: 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.
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. 14 For if they which are of the law be
heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where
no law is, there is no transgression. 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, 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. 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. 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: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God
through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what
he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him
for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake
alone, that it was imputed to him; 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; 25 Who was delivered for our offences,
and was raised again for our justification.