Abraham Justified by Faith

What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather(A) according to the flesh, has found?[a] If Abraham was justified[b] by works,(B) he has something to boast about—but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.[c](C) Now to the one who works,(D) pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly,(E) his faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the person
the Lord will never charge with sin.[d](F)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:1 Or What then shall we say? Have we found Abraham to be our forefather according to the flesh? or What, then, shall we say that Abraham our forefather found according to the flesh?
  2. 4:2 Or was declared righteous, or was acquitted
  3. 4:3 Gn 15:6
  4. 4:7–8 Ps 32:1–2

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