Abraham’s Faith Counted as Righteousness

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.”[fn] 4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited according to grace, but according to his due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but who believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks about the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

• 7 are they whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins are covered over.
• 8 is the person against whom the Lord will never count sin.”[fn]

9 Therefore, is this blessing for those who are circumcised[fn], or also for those who are uncircumcised[fn]? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.”[fn] 10 How then was it credited? While he[fn] was circumcised[fn] or uncircumcised[fn]? Not while circumcised[fn] but while uncircumcised[fn]! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal[fn] of the righteousness by faith which he had while uncircumcised[fn], so that he could be the father of all who believe although they are uncircumcised[fn], so that righteousness could be credited to them,[fn] 12 and the father of those who are circumcised[fn] to those who are not only from the circumcision, but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised[fn].