1What did our ancestor Abraham find regarding this physical life?
2If Abraham was made right with God by his actions, he would have something to brag about, but not to God.
3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
4When people work, their payment is not considered a gift, but something they earned.
5But if people don’t work, and instead believe in the one who makes ungodly people righteous, their faith is counted as righteousness.
6David also spoke of the blessings for the person whom God considers righteous apart from their actions.
7"Joyful are those whose wrongdoings are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8Joyful is the person whom the Lord will never accuse of sin."
9So, is this blessing only for those who are circumcised, or also for those who are not? We say that Abraham's faith was considered righteousness for him.
10When was it considered as such? Was he circumcised at that time, or not? Not when he was circumcised, but when he was not.
11He received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. This was so he could be the father of all who believe, even if they are not circumcised, so that righteousness might also be credited to them.
12He is also the father of those who are circumcised, but only if they also follow the example of faith that our father Abraham had when he was uncircumcised.
13For the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world was not based on the law, but on the righteousness that comes from faith.
14Because if those who follow the law are the heirs, then faith is meaningless, and the promise is cancelled.
15For the law brings punishment; but where there is no law, there is no breaking of it.
16Therefore, the promise is based on faith so that it can be a gift of God's unearned favor. This ensures that the promise is certain for all of Abraham's descendants, not just those who follow the law, but also those who share Abraham's faith. He is the father of us all.
17As the Scripture says, "I have made you a father of many nations." This is true in the sight of God, whom Abraham believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't yet exist.
18Beyond hope, Abraham, in hope, believed that he would become a father of many nations, just as God had told him, "So numerous will your descendants be."
19His faith didn't weaken, and he didn't consider his own body, which was already worn out (since he was about a hundred years old), or that Sarah's womb was no longer able to have children.
20Yet, Abraham did not doubt God's promise in unbelief, but he grew strong in faith and gave glory to God,
21fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
22That is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
23Now, the words "it was credited to him" were not written only for Abraham's sake,
24but also for our sake. It will be credited to us who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25Jesus was handed over to die for our sins and was raised to life so that we could be made right with God.