Romans 4:4-14

⁴Now for him who works, what he is paid is not counted as a gift, but as what is owed.

⁵But for him who does not work but instead believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

⁶David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness without works.

⁷He said, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

⁸Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count sin.”

⁹Then is this blessing pronounced only on those of the circumcision, or also on those of the uncircumcision? For we say, “Faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.”

¹⁰So how was it counted? When Abraham was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? It was not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

¹¹Abraham received the sign of circumcision. This was a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had already possessed when he was in uncircumcision. The result of this sign was that he became the father of all those who believe, even if they are in uncircumcision. This means that righteousness will be counted for them.

¹²This also meant that Abraham became the father of the circumcision for those who are not only circumcised but also for those who follow in the steps of faith of our father Abraham before he was circumcised.

¹³For the promise to Abraham and to his descendants that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

¹⁴For if those who live by the law are to be the heirs, faith is made empty, and the promise is void.