Romans 4:1-16

1What can we say that we have discovered about our ancestor Abraham?

2If Abraham had God’s approval because of something he did, he would have had a reason to brag. But he could not brag to God about it.

3What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.”

4When people work, their pay is not regarded as a gift but something they have earned.

5However, when people don’t work but believe God, the one who approves ungodly people, their faith is regarded as the basis of God’s approval.

6David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said,

7“Blessed are those whose disobedience is forgiven and whose sins are pardoned.

8Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer considers sinful.”

9Are only the circumcised people blessed, or are uncircumcised people blessed as well? We say, “Abraham’s faith was regarded as the basis of God’s approval.”

10How was his faith regarded as the basis of God’s approval? Was he circumcised or was he uncircumcised at that time? He had not been circumcised.

11Abraham’s faith was the basis of his approval by God while he was still uncircumcised. The mark of circumcision is the seal of that approval. Therefore, he is the father of every believer who is not circumcised, and their faith, too, is regarded as the basis of their approval by God.

12He is also the father of those who not only are circumcised but also are following in the footsteps of his faith. Our father Abraham had that faith before he was circumcised.

13So it was not by obeying the laws in Moses’ Teachings that Abraham or his descendants received the promise that he would inherit the world. Rather, he received this promise through God’s approval that comes by faith.

14If those who obey Moses’ Teachings are the heirs, then faith is useless and the promise is worthless.

15The laws in Moses’ Teachings bring about anger. But where those laws don’t exist, they can’t be broken.

16Therefore, the promise is based on faith so that it can be a gift. Consequently, the promise is guaranteed for every descendant, not only for those who are descendants by obeying Moses’ Teachings but also for those who are descendants by believing as Abraham did. He is the father of all of us,