Romans 4
Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness, not his works, and he received this before being circumcised. This makes him the father of all who believe, both circumcised and uncircumcised. The promise to Abraham was based on faith, not the law, and is available to all who share his faith. Abraham's faith was unwavering, even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances, and his example is cited as a basis for the justification of believers through faith in Jesus Christ.
So then, what shall we say that Abraham had achieved, who is our father according to the fleshFor if Abraham was justified by works, he would have glory, but not with GodFor what does Scripture say? "Abram believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.But for he who works, wages are not accounted according to grace, but according to debtYet truly, for he who does not work, but who believes in him who justifies the impious, his faith is reputed unto justice, according to the purpose of the grace of GodSimilarly, David also declares the blessedness of a man, to whom God brings justice without works"Blessed are they whose iniquities have been forgiven and whose sins have been coveredBlessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin.Does this blessedness, then, remain only in the circumcised, or is it even in the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was reputed to Abraham unto justiceBut then how was it reputed? In circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcisionFor he received the sign of circumcision as a symbol of the justice of that faith which exists apart from circumcision, so that he might be the father of all those who believe while uncircumcised, so that it might also be reputed to them unto justiceand he might be the father of circumcision, not only for those who are of circumcision, but even for those who follow the footsteps of that faith which is in the uncircumcision of our father AbrahamFor the Promise to Abraham, and to his posterity, that he would inherit the world, was not through the law, but through the justice of faithFor if those who are of the law are the heirs, then faith becomes empty and the Promise is abolishedFor the law works unto wrath. And where there is no law, there is no law-breakingBecause of this, it is from faith according to grace that the Promise is ensured for all posterity, not only for those who are of the law, but also for those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all before Godin whom he believed, who revives the dead and who calls those things that do not exist into existence. For it is written: "I have established you as the father of many nations.And he believed, with a hope beyond hope, so that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was said to him: "So shall your posterity be.And he was not weakened in faith, nor did he consider his own body to be dead (though he was then almost one hundred years old), nor the womb of Sarah to be deadAnd then, in the Promise of God, he did not hesitate out of distrust, but instead he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to Godknowing most fully that whatever God has promised, he is also able to accomplishAnd for this reason, it was reputed to him unto justiceNow this has been written, that it was reputed to him unto justice, not only for his sakebut also for our sake. For the same shall be reputed to us, if we believe in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the deadwho was handed over because of our offenses, and who rose again for our justification
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