4 So what did our physical ancestor, Abraham discover about all this? 2 Because if Abraham was declared guiltless because of his actions, maybe he could boast? But not towards God 3 [ref]because the scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed in God so he was considered guiltless.’ 4 Now for someone who’s working, their wages are considered ‘owed’, not a gift. 5 However someone who’s not working but having faith that God will declare disobedient people as guiltless, then that person’s faith is considered to make them guiltless. 6 It’s just like what David said about blessing a person who God declares as guiltless despite their actions:

7 [ref]‘Those who’ve been forgiven for their lawlessness will be happy,

and whose sins have been covered over.

8 Anyone who the master declares to have no sin will be happy.’

9 Is this favour shown to circumcised Jews or is it also for non-Jews? Because we were saying that Abraham was considered guiltless because of his faith. 10 So how did that happen? Because he was circumcised or when he was still uncircumcised? No, it was before he was circumcised. 11 [ref]He received circumcision as a sign—proof of the righteousness that he gained from his faith while he was still uncircumcised—becoming the father of everyone who’s uncircumcised but believes so that they’ll be declared guiltless. 12 So our ancestor Abraham is the ancestor of us as a circumcised people, not just because we’re circumcised, but also as we follow his steps of faith while uncircumcised.