Abraham Justified by Faith^(A)

4 What then shall we say that ^(B)Abraham our ^(C)father^[a] has found according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was ^(D)justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? ^(E)“Abraham believed God, and it was ^[b]accounted to him for righteousness.” ⁴ Now ^(F)to him who works, the wages are not counted ^[c]as grace but as debt.

David Celebrates the Same Truth

⁵ But to him who ^(G)does not work but believes on Him who justifies ^(H)the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, ⁶ just as David also ^(I)describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Faithful Abraham^(A)

⁸ By faith ^(B)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

The Faith of the Patriarchs^(A)

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, ^(B)when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ^18 [a]of whom it was said, ^(C)“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God ^(D)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works ^(A)when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see ^(B)that faith was working together with his works, and by ^(C)works faith was made ^[a]perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ^(D)“Abraham believed God, and it was ^[b]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called ^(E)the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.