Rom 4 | BSB | STEP | What then shall we say [that] Abraham, our forefather, has discovered?

‏ Romans 4

Abraham Justified by Faith

1 What then shall we say [that] Abraham, our forefather, has discovered? 2 If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what {does} the Scripture say? “ - Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ^{▼▼Genesis 15:6} 4 Now the wages of [the] worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the [one who] does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed [are those] whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed [is] [the] man [whose] sin [the] Lord will never count against him.” ^{▼▼Psalm 32:1,2} 9 [Is] this blessing [only] on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited as righteousness. 10 In what context was it credited? [Was it after] his circumcision, or [before] ? [It was] not [after] , but [before] . 11 And 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. 12 And [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.

Abraham Receives the Promise

13 For it was not through [the] Law [that] Abraham [and] his descendants were promised that he would be heir [of the] world, but through [the] righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those [who live by] [the] Law [are] heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless, 15 because the Law brings wrath. And where there is no law, [there is] no transgression. 16 Therefore, [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. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” ^{▼▼Genesis 17:5} [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. 18 Against 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.” ^{▼▼Genesis 15:5} 19 Without 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. 20 Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith [and] gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that [God] was able to do what He had promised. 22 That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ^{▼▼Genesis 15:6} 23 Now [the words] “it was credited to him” were written not only for [Abraham] , 24 but also for us, to whom [righteousness] will be credited— for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from [the] dead. 25 [He] was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.