1Whatthen shall we say that Abraham, our forefather1according to the flesh, has found?
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For ifAbraham was justified by works, he hassomething to boastabout, but 2not beforeGod.
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For what does the Scripturesay? "3ABRAHAMBELIEVEDGOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
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Now to the one who 4works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
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But to the one who does not work, but 5believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
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just as Davidalsospeaks of the blessing on the man to whomGodcreditsrighteousnessapart from works:
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"6BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSELAWLESSDEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSESINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
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"7BLESSED IS THE MANWHOSESIN THE LORD WILL NOT 8TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."
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Is thisblessingthen on 9the circumcised, or on the uncircumcisedalso? For 10we say, "11FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."
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Howthen was it credited? While he was circumcised, oruncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised;
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and he 12received the sign of circumcision, 13a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be 14the father of 15all who believewithoutbeingcircumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
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and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who alsofollow in the steps of the faith of our fatherAbraham which he had while uncircumcised.
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For 16the promise to Abrahamor to his descendants17that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
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For 18ifthose who are of the Law are heirs, faith is madevoid and the promise is nullified;
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for 19the Lawbringsaboutwrath, but 20where there is nolaw, there also is noviolation.
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For thisreason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with 21grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to 22all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to 23those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is 24the father of us all,
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(as it is written, "25A FATHER OF MANYNATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, 26who giveslife to the dead and 27calls into being28that which does not exist.
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In hopeagainsthope he believed, so that he might become29a father of manynationsaccording to that which had been spoken, "30SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."
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Withoutbecomingweak in faith he contemplated his ownbody, now 31as good as dead since 32he was about a hundredyearsold, and 33the deadness of Sarah'swomb;
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yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grewstrong in faith, 34givingglory to God,
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and 35being fullyassured that 36what God had promised, He was ablealso to perform.
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Therefore37IT WAS ALSOCREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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Now38not for his sakeonly was it written that it was credited to him,
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but for our sakealso, to whom it will be credited, as those39who believe in Him who 40raisedJesus our Lord from the dead,
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He who was 41delivered over because of our transgressions, and was 42raisedbecause of our justification.