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Abraham believed God

4 Abraham was the ancestor of all of us who are Jews. Think about what he discovered. ² God did not accept Abraham as right with him because Abraham had done good things. If God had done that, then Abraham would have been able to boast about himself. But he could not boast to God. ³ Remember what the Bible tells us. It says: ‘Abraham believed God. As a result, God accepted Abraham as right with him.’ ^{[ a ]}

⁴ When a person works to get money, it is right for him to receive his money. That money is not a gift. It is what that person ought to receive as a result of his work. ⁵ But someone may believe in God. He does not work to cause God to accept him. God accepts that person because of their faith. God says that people who have turned away from him are right with him, if they trust him. That is God's gift to them. ⁶ David also wrote about the same thing. He describes those people that God has accepted as right with himself. God has not accepted them because they have done good things, but as his gift to them. David tells us how happy people like that are. ⁷ David says:

‘The people that God has forgiven are really happy.
They have done wrong things, but he has forgiven them.
⁸ A person is really happy when the Lord accepts him.
The Lord does not think about that person's sin any more.’ ^{[ b ]}

⁹ God does this for all people, both Jews and Gentiles. All people can be really happy like this, when God accepts them. As we have said, Abraham believed God. As a result, God accepted Abraham as right with him. ¹⁰ They circumcised Abraham to show that he was a Jew. Think about the time when God accepted Abraham. Did it happen before they circumcised him, or after that? We know that it was before they circumcised him! ¹¹ Some time after that, God told Abraham that someone should circumcise him. That would be a mark on his body to show that God had accepted him. God had already accepted Abraham because Abraham believed in him. God did not accept Abraham because they had circumcised him as a Jewish man. This shows that Abraham is like a father to everyone that God has accepted. Like Abraham, God has accepted them because they have believed in him. It is not important that nobody has circumcised them. ¹² But Abraham is also like the father of all Jews who believe in God. Someone has circumcised those Jews, but they have copied Abraham's example. They have believed in God, as Abraham believed before anyone had circumcised him. ^{[ c ]}

¹³ God promised to Abraham, and to his descendants, that the world would belong to them one day. ^{[ d ]} God did not promise that because Abraham obeyed any rules. God promised it because Abraham believed in him. That is why God accepted Abraham as right with him. ¹⁴ People cannot get what God promised because they obey rules. If they could get it like that, then faith in God would be worth nothing. And what God promised would be worth nothing. ¹⁵ The rules in Moses' Law say that God will punish people who do not obey those rules. But without any rules, there is nothing for people to obey.

¹⁶ So God gives us his promise as a gift, because he is very kind. We receive it when we trust him. If we believe in God like Abraham did, then God accepts us. That is God's promise to all of Abraham's family. If we believe in God, we can call Abraham our ancestor. We can all receive what God has promised. It is not only for those who have Moses' Law to obey. ¹⁷ In the Bible, God said to Abraham, ‘I have chosen you to become the ancestor of many different people.’ ^{[ e ]} That is what God himself promises, because Abraham believed in him. God is the one who causes dead people to become alive again. He speaks about things that are not yet there as if they were already there.

¹⁸ Abraham continued to trust God. He hoped to receive what God had promised. He continued to hope even when he had no good reason to hope. That is why he became the ancestor of many different people. It happened just like God had said: ‘You will have very many descendants.’ ^{[ f ]}

¹⁹ Abraham was about 100 years old. His body was already so old that it was nearly dead. His wife, Sarah, was unable to have children. Abraham understood all that, but he did not stop trusting God. ²⁰ He never stopped believing what God had promised. Instead, he believed in God more strongly. He trusted God's great power. ²¹ Abraham was sure that God was able to do what he had promised to do. ²² So we see that it is true: Because Abraham believed God, God accepted Abraham as right with him. ^{[ g ]}

²³ Think about those words, ‘God accepted him as right.’ They are not only speaking about Abraham. ²⁴ They are written in the Bible to help us too. If we believe in God, he will accept us as right with him. God raised our Lord Jesus, so that he became alive again after his death. ²⁵ God let people kill Jesus on the cross because of the wrong things that we have done. Then God raised Jesus from death, to show that he would accept us as right with him.

Footnotes

4:3 See Genesis 15:6 . Genesis 12—22 tell us about how Abraham believed God.
4:8 See Psalms 32:1-2 .
4:12 See Genesis 17:1-27 .
4:13 Genesis 22:17-18 shows us what God promised to Abraham.
4:17 See Genesis 17:5 .
4:18 See Genesis 17:7 .
4:22 See Genesis 18:14 ;.

The Example of Abraham

4 So what can we say about Abraham, the father of our people? What did he learn about faith? ² If Abraham was made right by the things he did, he had a reason to boast about himself. But God knew different. ³ That’s why the Scriptures say, “Abraham believed God, and because of this he was accepted as one who is right with God.” ^{[ a ]}

⁴ When people work, their pay is not given to them as a gift. They earn the pay they get. ⁵ But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him. Then he accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him. He is the one who makes even evil people right. ⁶ David said the same thing when he was talking about the blessing people have when God accepts them as good without looking at what they have done:

⁷ “It is a great blessing
when people are forgiven for the wrongs they have done,
when their sins are erased!
⁸ It is a great blessing when the Lord accepts people
as if they are without sin!” ^{( A )}

⁹ Is this blessing only for those who are circumcised? Or is it also for those who are not circumcised? We have already said that it was because of Abraham’s faith that he was accepted as one who is right with God. ¹⁰ So how did this happen? Did God accept Abraham before or after he was circumcised? God accepted him before his circumcision. ¹¹ Abraham was circumcised later to show that God accepted him. His circumcision was proof that he was right with God through faith before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the father of all those who believe but are not circumcised. They believe and are accepted as people who are right with God. ¹² And Abraham is also the father of those who have been circumcised. But it is not their circumcision that makes him their father. He is their father only if they live following the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

God’s Promise Received Through Faith

¹³ Abraham and his descendants received the promise that they would get the whole world. But Abraham did not receive that promise because he followed the law. He received that promise because he was right with God through his faith. ¹⁴ If people could get God’s promise by following the law, then faith is worthless. And God’s promise to Abraham is worthless, ¹⁵ because the law can only bring God’s anger on those who disobey it. But if there is no law, then there is nothing to disobey.

¹⁶ So people get what God promised by having faith. This happens so that the promise can be a free gift. And if the promise is a free gift, then all of Abraham’s people will get that promise. The promise is not just for those who live under the Law of Moses. It is for all who live with faith as Abraham did. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As the Scriptures say, “I have made you a father of many nations.” ^{[ b ]} This is true before God, the one Abraham believed—the God who gives life to the dead and speaks of things that don’t yet exist as if they are real.

¹⁸ There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “You will have many descendants.” ^{[ c ]} ¹⁹ Abraham was almost a hundred years old, so he was past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham was well aware of this, but his faith in God never became weak. ²⁰ He never doubted that God would do what he promised. He never stopped believing. In fact, he grew stronger in his faith and just praised God. ²¹ Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he promised. ²² So that’s why “he was accepted as one who is right with God.” ^{[ d ]} ²³ These words (“he was accepted”) were written not only for Abraham. ²⁴ They were also written for us. God will also accept us because we believe. We believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from death. ²⁵ Jesus was handed over to die for our sins, and he was raised from death to make us right with God.

Footnotes

Romans 4:3 Quote from Gen. 15:6 .
Romans 4:17 Quote from Gen. 17:5 .
Romans 4:18 Quote from Gen. 15:5 .
Romans 4:22 Quote from Gen. 15:6 .

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.

Abraham’s Justification by Faith

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, ^{[ a ]} our forefather ^{( A )} according to the flesh, has found? ² For if Abraham was justified ^{[ b ]} by works, he has something to boast about; but ^{( B )} not ^{[ c ]} before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “ ^{( C )} Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness .” ⁴ Now to the one who ^{( D )} works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but ^{( E )} believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “ ^{( F )} Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven ,
And whose sins have been covered .
⁸ ^{( G )} Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not ^{( H )} take into account .”

⁹ Is this blessing then on ^{[ d ]} ^{( I )} the circumcised, or on ^{[ e ]} the uncircumcised also? For ^{( J )} we say, “ ^{( K )} Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness .” ¹⁰ How then was it credited? While he was ^{[ f ]} circumcised, or ^{[ g ]} uncircumcised? Not while ^{[ h ]} circumcised, but while ^{[ i ]} uncircumcised; ¹¹ and he ^{( L )} received the sign of circumcision, ^{( M )} a seal of the righteousness of the faith which ^{[ j ]} he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be ^{( N )} the father of ^{( O )} 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 ^{[ k ]} he had while uncircumcised.

¹³ For ^{( P )} the promise to Abraham or to his ^{[ l ]} descendants ^{( Q )} that he would be heir of the world was not ^{[ m ]} through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For ^{( R )} if those who are ^{[ n ]} of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified; ¹⁵ for ^{( S )} the Law brings about wrath, but ^{( T )} where there is no law, there also is no violation.

¹⁶ For this reason it is ^{[ o ]} by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with ^{( U )} grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^{( V )} all the ^{[ p ]} descendants, not only to ^{[ q ]} those who are of the Law, but also to ^{[ r ]} ^{( W )} those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^{( X )} the father of us all, ¹⁷ (as it is written: “I have made you ^{( Y )} a father of many nations ”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is , God, ^{( Z )} who gives life to the dead and ^{( AA )} calls into being ^{( AB )} things that do not exist. ¹⁸ In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become ^{( AC )} a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “ ^{( AD )} So shall your ^{[ s ]} descendants be .” ¹⁹ Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now ^{( AE )} as good as dead since ^{( AF )} he was about a hundred years old, and ^{( AG )} 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, ^{( AH )} giving glory to God, ²¹ and ^{( AI )} being fully assured that ^{( AJ )} what God had promised, He was able also to perform. ²² Therefore ^{( AK )} it was also credited to him as righteousness . ²³ Now ^{( AL )} 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, to us ^{( AM )} who believe in Him who ^{( AN )} raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵ He who was ^{( AO )} delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was ^{( AP )} raised because of our justification.

Footnotes

Romans 4:1 Or our forefather, has found according to the flesh
Romans 4:2 Lit out of
Romans 4:2 Lit toward
Romans 4:9 Lit circumcision
Romans 4:9 Lit uncircumcision
Romans 4:10 Lit in circumcision
Romans 4:10 Lit in uncircumcision
Romans 4:10 Lit in circumcision
Romans 4:10 Lit in uncircumcision
Romans 4:11 Lit was in uncircumcision
Romans 4:12 Lit was in uncircumcision
Romans 4:13 Lit seed
Romans 4:13 Or through law
Romans 4:14 Or of law
Romans 4:16 Or out of
Romans 4:16 Lit seed
Romans 4:16 Lit that which is
Romans 4:16 Lit that which is
Romans 4:18 Lit seed

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say ^{( A )} that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, ^{( B )} discovered in this matter? ² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. ^{( C )} ³ What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ^{[ a ]} ^{( D )}

⁴ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift ^{( E )} but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. ^{( F )} ⁶ David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
⁸ Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” ^{[ b ]} ^{( G )}

⁹ Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? ^{( H )} We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. ^{( I )} ¹⁰ Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! ¹¹ And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. ^{( J )} So then, he is the father ^{( K )} of all who believe ^{( L )} but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. ¹² And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise ^{( M )} that he would be heir of the world, ^{( N )} but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ^{( O )} ¹⁴ For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, ^{( P )} ¹⁵ because the law brings wrath. ^{( Q )} And where there is no law there is no transgression. ^{( R )}

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace ^{( S )} and may be guaranteed ^{( T )} to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ^{( U )} ¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” ^{[ c ]} ^{( V )} He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life ^{( W )} to the dead and calls ^{( X )} into being things that were not. ^{( Y )}

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, ^{( Z )} just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” ^{[ d ]} ^{( AA )} ¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead ^{( AB )} —since he was about a hundred years old ^{( AC )} —and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ^{( AD )} ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened ^{( AE )} in his faith and gave glory to God, ^{( AF )} ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ^{( AG )} ²² This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ^{( AH )} ²³ The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us, ^{( AI )} to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him ^{( AJ )} who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ^{( AK )} ²⁵ He was delivered over to death for our sins ^{( AL )} and was raised to life for our justification. ^{( AM )}

Footnotes

Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5

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Abraham believed God

Footnotes

The Example of Abraham

God’s Promise Received Through Faith

Footnotes

Cross references

Abraham’s Justification by Faith

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Abraham Justified by Faith

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Abraham believed God

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The Example of Abraham

God’s Promise Received Through Faith

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Abraham’s Justification by Faith

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Abraham Justified by Faith

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