1 WHAT shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

1What shall we say then, that Abraham our father, as perteining to the flesh, hath found?

2For if Abraham were iustified by workes, hee hath whereof to glory, but not before God.

3For what saith the Scripture? Abraham beleeued God, and it was counted vnto him for righteousnes.

4Now to him that worketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5But to him that worketh not, but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly; his faith is counted for righteousnesse.

6Euen as Dauid also describeth the blessednesse of the man, vnto whom God imputeth righteousnesse without works:

7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen, and whose sinnes are couered.

8Blessed is the man to whome the Lord will not impute sinne.

9Commeth this blessednes then vpon the circumcision onely, or vpon the vncircumcision also? for wee say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousnesse.

10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in vncircumcision? not in circumcision, but in vncircumcision.

11And hee receiued the signe of circumcision, a seale of the righteousnesse of the faith, which hee had yet being vncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that beleeue, though they be not circumcised; that righteousnesse might be imputed vnto them also:

12And the father of circumcision, to them who are not of the circumcision onely, but also walke in the steppes of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet vncircumcised.

13For the promise that he should be the heire of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed through the Lawe, but through the righteousnesse of faith.

14For if they which are of the law be heires, faith is made voide, and the promise made of none effect.

15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no Lawe is, there is no transgression.

16Therefore it is of faith, that it might bee by grace; to the ende the promise might be sure to all the seede, not to that onely which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of vs all,

17(As it is written, I haue made thee a father of many nations) before him whom he beleeued, euen God who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which bee not, as though they were,

18Who against hope, beleeued in hope, that hee might become the father of many nations: according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seede bee.

19And being not weake in faith, hee considered not his owne body now dead, when hee was about an hundred yere old, neither yet the deadnes of Saraes wombe.

20Hee staggered not at the promise of God through vnbeliefe: but was strong in faith, giuing glory to God:

21And being fully perswaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to performe.

22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousnesse.

23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him:

24But for vs also, to whome it shall bee imputed, if wee beleeue on him that raised vp Iesus our Lord from the dead,

25Who was deliuered for our offences, and was raised againe for our iustification.

I == Isa 51:2 ; Matt 3:9 ; John 3:9 ; John 8:33 , 39

III == Gen 15:6 ; Gal 3:6 ; James 2:23

IV == Rom 11:6

V == Josh 24:2

VII == Ps 32:1-2

XI == Gen 17:10 ; Luke 19:9

XIII == Gen 17:4-9 ; Gal 3:29

XIV == Gal 3:18

XV == 1st Cor 15:56 ; 2nd Cor 3:7 , 9

XVI == Isa 51:2 ; Gal 3:22

XVII == Gen 17:5 ; 1st Peter 2:10

XVIII == Gen 15:5

XIX == Heb 11:11-12

XXI == Ps 115:3

XXIII == Rom 15:4

XXIV == Acts 2:24 ; 13:30

XXV == Isa 53:5-6 ; Gal 1:4 : Heb 9:28

1 What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast; but this was not so in the sight of God. 3 For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 4 A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due. 5 But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record."9 Does this blessedness apply only to the circumcised, or to the uncircumcised as well? Now we assert that "faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness." 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was he circumcised or not? He was not circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal on the righteousness received through faith while he was uncircumcised. Thus he was to be the father of all the uncircumcised who believe, so that to them (also) righteousness might be credited, 12 as well as the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but also follow the path of faith that our father Abraham walked while still uncircumcised. 13 It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. 14 For if those who adhere to the law are the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law produces wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16 For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, "I have made you father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. 18 He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "Thus shall your descendants be." 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body as (already) dead (for he was almost a hundred years old) and the dead womb of Sarah. 20 He did not doubt God's promise in unbelief; rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God 21 and was fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do. 22 That is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 But it was not for him alone that it was written that "it was credited to him"; 24 it was also for us, to whom it will be credited, who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was handed over for our transgressions and was raised for our justification.

v1-5. In 3:28 Paul stated that we are justified by faith, but the question arises, what about Abraham? The wise answer, v3, is “What does the Scripture say about it?” Abraham lived centuries before the law was given to Moses, but even then justification was by faith. Faith is taking God at His word. He might boast of his works before men, but not before God. Twelve times in chapters 4 & 5 some form of the word impute, reckon, or put to account occurs. Faith justifies the ungodly and counts them to be righteous. If one is rewarded for their works it is an obligation or debt owed them. Justification is not a debt God owes us but a gift he gives us because of our faith. We can neither work to gain or to keep our salvation. 

v6-8. Here are three aspects of forgiveness.
1, We are not made righteous, but we are treated as righteous because  Christ’s righteousness is placed to our account, v6.
2, Our iniquities are forgiven and our sins are covered v7.
3, God will not charge sin against us, all our sins have been laid on Christ, v8.
Our sins have been placed upon Christ, His righteousness was placed on us.

v9-12. Justification is not through ordinances. The heir apparent to a throne does not become a prince because of the royal advantages he has, it is because of his birth that he is named royalty. We are not Christians because we have the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and have the ceremonies of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We are Christians because we are born into Gods family through faith. Abraham is the father of the Jewish race, but the spiritual father of all who believe, and only of believers. v 12 rekates back to 2:19-23, the universality of sin. Sin, a  universal curse, is man’s nature. Sins are the manifestation of that nature.

v13-15. “Heir to the world is a summary of blessings God promised to Abraham and his descendants. The Messianic Kingdom will be for all his spiritual children. If the blessing is based upon the law, then first, faith is void. Secondly, the law is made of no effect because men cannot keep the law.

v16. Two factors have a part in justification. Grace, God’s part, and faith, man’s part. Through faith all are eligible outside of the law.

v17. God called him the father of many nations as though it was already  an accomplished fact.

v18-22. Abraham accepted God at His word and believed the impossible would take place simply on the basis of God’s promise.  This faith God put to his account as righteousness. 

v23-25. The record of Abraham’s faith is not merely for a biographical sketch of that man. It is to show that the promises are also for all who believe. It was because of our offenses that Christ died. His resurrection is proof that our sins are gone and we have been justified.   v 25 ‘For” better translated “on account of”.