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- What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?
- If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God.
- What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
- Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.
- However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
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- What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
- For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
- For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
- Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
- But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
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- David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
- "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
- Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
- Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.
- Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!
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- Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
- Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
- Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
- Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
- How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
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- And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
- And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
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- And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
- And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
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