Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Paul shows by the example of Abraham that faith justifies, and not the law or the works of the law.

4 What shall we say then that Abraham, our father as to the flesh, did find? ² If Abraham were justified by deeds, then he has wherein to glory, but not with God. ³ For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. ⁴ To him who works, the reward is not reckoned from favour, but as his due. ⁵ To him who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ⁶ It is just as David describes the blessedfulness of the person to whom God ascribes righteousness apart from deeds: ⁷ Blessed are those whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; ⁸ blessed is that man to whom the Lord does not impute sin.

⁹ Did this blessedness come then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised? We say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it reckoned? In the time of circumcision, or in the time before he was circumcised? Not in the time of circumcision, but when he was yet uncircumcised.

¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that is by faith. This faith he had when still uncircumcised, to the intent that he should be the father of all who believe, though they are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be ascribed to them also; ¹² and to the intent that he should be the father of the circumcised, not only because they are circumcised, but because they walk also in the steps of that faith that was in our father Abraham before the time of circumcision.