Romans 4
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1What, then, are we to say about Abraham, our human ancestor? 1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?
2For if Abraham was justified by actions, he would have had something to boast about—though not before God. 2If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had 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." 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4Now to someone who works, wages are not considered a gift but an obligation. 4Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
5However, to someone who does not work, but simply believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. 5However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6Likewise, David also speaks of the blessedness of the person whom God regards as righteous apart from actions:6And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7"How blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered!7“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8How blessed is the person whose sins the Lord will never charge against him!" 8Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
9Now does this blessedness come to the circumcised alone, or also to the uncircumcised? For we say, "Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness."9Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.
10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or uncircumcised? He had not yet been circumcised, but was uncircumcised. 10In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.
11Afterward he received the mark of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. Therefore, he is the ancestor of all who believe while uncircumcised, in order that righteousness may be credited to them. 11And he received the sign of circumcision as 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 are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
12He is also the ancestor of the circumcised—those who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.12And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the Law, but through the righteousness produced by faith. 13For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14For if those who were given the Law are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 14For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,
15for the Law produces wrath. Now where there is no Law, neither can there be any violation of it.15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
16Therefore, the promise is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all of Abraham's descendants—not only for those who were given the Law, but also for those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
17As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham acted in faith when he stood in the presence of God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
18Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," just as he had been told: "This is how many descendants you will have."18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
19His faith did not weaken when he thought about his own body (which was already as good as dead now that he was about a hundred years old) or about Sarah's inability to have children, 19Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
20nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God, 20Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21being absolutely convinced that God would do what he had promised. 21being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
23Now the words "it was credited to him" were written not only for him 23Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,
24but also for us. Our faith will be regarded in the same way, if we believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 24but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25He was sentenced to death because of our sins and raised to life to justify us.25He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
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Romans 3
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