Romans 4

Abraham’s Justification by Faith

1What then shall we say that Abraham, #4:1 Or our forefather, has found according to the fleshour forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2For if Abraham was justified #4:2 Lit out ofby works, he has something to boast about; but not #4:2 Lit towardbefore 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 #4:9 Lit circumcisionthe circumcised, or on #4:9 Lit uncircumcisionthe uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.” 10How then was it credited? While he was #4:10 Lit in circumcisioncircumcised, or #4:10 Lit in uncircumcisionuncircumcised? Not while #4:10 Lit in circumcisioncircumcised, but while #4:10 Lit in uncircumcisionuncircumcised; 11and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which #4:11 Lit was in uncircumcisionhe 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 #4:12 Lit was in uncircumcisionhe had while uncircumcised.

13For the promise to Abraham or to his #4:13 Lit seeddescendants that he would be heir of the world was not #4:13 Or through lawthrough the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14For if those who are #4:14 Or of lawof the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

16For this reason it is #4:16 Or out ofby faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the #4:16 Lit seeddescendants, not only to #4:16 Lit that which isthose who are of the Law, but also to #4:16 Lit that which isthose who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17(as it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that do not exist. 18In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your #4:18 Lit seeddescendants be.” 19Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. 23Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.

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Romans 4: NASB2020

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Romans 4

Abraham Justified by Faith

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”#4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22

4Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6David 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.

8Blessed is the one

whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”#4:8 Psalm 32:1,2

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

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

16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed 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. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”#4:17 Gen. 17:5 He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”#4:18 Gen. 15:5 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

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