Romans 4
4
1WHAT shall we say then that Abraham hath found, who is our father according to the flesh.
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 reputed to him unto justice.
4Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned according to grace, but according to debt.
5But to him that worketh not, yet believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reputed to justice, according to the purpose of the grace of God.
6As David also termeth the blessedness of a man, to whom God reputeth justice without works:
7Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin.
9This blessedness then, doth it remain in the circumcision only, or in the uncircumcision also? For we say that unto Abraham faith was reputed to justice.
10How then was it reputed? 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 justice of the faith, which he had, being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, being uncircumcised, that unto them also it may be reputed to justice:
12And might be the father of circumcision; not to them only, that are of the circumcision, but to them also that follow the steps of the faithful, that is in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham.
13For not through the law was the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world; but through the justice of faith.
14For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, the promise is made of no effect.
15For the law worketh wrath. For where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
16Therefore is it of faith, that according to grace the promise might be firm 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 God, whom he believed, who quickeneth the dead; and calleth those things that are not, as those that are.
18Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be.
19And he was not weak in faith; neither did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara.
20In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God:
21Most fully knowing, that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform.
22And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.
23Now it is not written only for him, that it was reputed to him unto justice,
24But also for us, to whom it shall be reputed, if we believe in him, that raised up Jesus Christ, our Lord, from the dead,
25Who was delivered up for our sins, and rose again for our justification.
Currently Selected:
Romans 4: DRC1752
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Romans 4
4
The Example of Abraham
1So what can we say that Abraham, the father of our people, learned about faith? 2If Abraham was made right by the things he did, he had a reason to brag. But this is not God’s view, 3because the Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.”
4When people work, their pay is not given as a gift, but as something earned. 5But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him, who makes even evil people right in his sight. Then God accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him. 6David said the same thing. He said that people are truly blessed when God, without paying attention to their deeds, makes people right with himself.
7“Blessed are they
whose sins are forgiven,
whose wrongs are pardoned.
8Blessed is the person
whom the Lord does not consider guilty.”#Psalm 32:1–2
9Is this blessing only for those who are circumcised or also for those who are not circumcised? We have already said that God accepted Abraham’s faith and that faith made him right with God. 10So how did this happen? Did God accept Abraham before or after he was circumcised? It was before his circumcision. 11Abraham was circumcised to show 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; he is the father of all believers who are accepted as being right with God. 12And Abraham is also the father of those who have been circumcised and who live following the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
God Keeps His Promise
13Abraham and his descendants received the promise that they would get the whole world. He did not receive that promise through the law, but through being right with God by his faith. 14If people could receive what God promised by following the law, then faith is worthless. And God’s promise to Abraham is worthless, 15because the law can only bring God’s anger. But if there is no law, there is nothing to disobey.
16So people receive God’s promise by having faith. This happens so the promise can be a free gift. Then all of Abraham’s children can have that promise. It is not only for those who live under the law of Moses but for anyone who lives with faith like that of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17As it is written in the Scriptures: “I am making you a father of many nations.” This is true before God, the God Abraham believed, the God who gives life to the dead and who creates something out of nothing.
18There was no hope that Abraham would have children. But Abraham believed God and continued hoping, and so he became the father of many nations. As God told him, “Your descendants also will be too many to count.” 19Abraham was almost a hundred years old, much past the age for having children, and Sarah could not have children. Abraham thought about all this, but his faith in God did not become weak. 20He never doubted that God would keep his promise, and he never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God. 21Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he had promised. 22So, “God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.” 23Those words (“God accepted Abraham’s faith”) were written not only for Abraham 24but also for us. God will accept us also because we believe in the One who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25Jesus was given to die for our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.