Romans 4:1-12

Abraham’s Justification by Faith

¹What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ⁴Now to the one who works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. ⁵But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, ⁶just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person 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.”

⁹Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” ¹⁰How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; ¹¹and 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, ¹²and 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.