Romans 4

Abraham Justified by Faith

1 What then shall we say that a Abraham our b father 1 has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was c justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? d "Abraham believed God, and it was 2 accounted to him for righteousness." 3 4 Now e to him who works, the wages are not counted 4 as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who f does not work but believes on Him who justifies g the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also h describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 "Blessed i are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." 5

9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And j he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that k he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father l Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For the promise that he would be the m heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For n if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because o the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be p according to grace, q so that the promise might be 6 sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, r who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, s "I have made you a father of many nations" 7 ) in the presence of Him whom he believed - God, t who gives life to the dead and calls those u things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, v "So shall your descendants be." 8 19 And not being weak in faith, w he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), x and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised y He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore z "it was accounted to him for righteousness." 9 23 Now a it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe b in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 c who was delivered up because of our offenses, and d was raised because of our justification.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 11:27
    This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran begot Lot.
    Genesis 25:9
    And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite.
    Isaiah 51:2
    Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.
    Matthew 3:9
    And do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
    John 8:33
    They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?
  2. Cross References
    Luke 3:8
    Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
    John 8:53
    "Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?"
    James 2:21
    Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
  3. Cross References
    Romans 3:20
    Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
    Romans 3:27
    Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 15:6
    And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
    Romans 4:9
    Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
    Romans 4:22
    And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness.
    Galatians 3:6
    Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
    James 2:23
    And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
  5. Cross References
    Romans 11:6
    And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
  6. Cross References
    Galatians 2:16
    Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
    Ephesians 2:8
    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.
    Ephesians 2:9
    Not of works, lest anyone should boast.
  7. Cross References
    Joshua 24:2
    And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods.
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 32:1
    Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
    Psalms 32:2
    Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
  9. Cross References
    Psalms 32:1
    Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
    Psalms 32:2
    Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
  10. Cross References
    Genesis 17:10
    This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised.
  11. Cross References
    Luke 19:9
    And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.
    Romans 4:16
    Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
  12. Cross References
    Romans 4:18 - 22
    Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be.
  13. Cross References
    Genesis 17:4 - 6
    As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
    Genesis 22:17
    Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
  14. Cross References
    Galatians 3:18
    For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 3:20
    Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
  16. Cross References
    Romans 3:24
    Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
  17. Cross References
    Galatians 3:22
    But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
  18. Cross References
    Isaiah 51:2
    Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 17:5
    No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
  20. Cross References
    Romans 8:11
    But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
  21. Cross References
    Romans 9:26
    "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ' You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God."
  22. Cross References
    Genesis 15:5
    Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
  24. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:11
    By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 18:14
    "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
    Psalms 115:3
    But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
    Luke 1:37
    "For with God nothing will be impossible."
    Hebrews 11:19
    Concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 15:6
    And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
  27. Cross References
    Romans 15:4
    For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
    1 Corinthians 10:6
    Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
  28. Cross References
    Acts 2:24
    Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
  29. Cross References
    Isaiah 53:4
    Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our ...
    Isaiah 53:5
    But He was wounded for our transgressions, He w...
    Romans 5:6
    For when we were still without strength, in due...
    Romans 5:8
    But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in...
    Romans 8:32
    He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered...
    Galatians 2:20
    I have been crucified with Christ; it is no lon...
    Ephesians 5:2
    And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us a...
    Hebrews 9:28
    So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of ...
  30. Cross References
    Romans 5:18
    Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
    1 Corinthians 15:17
    And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
    2 Corinthians 5:15
    And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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