Romans 4

 

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father attained (to by his own works) pertaining to the flesh (apart from grace)?

 

2 For if Abraham were justified (to life) by (his own) works, he had grounds for boasting, but not before God.

 

3 For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed (that) God (who promised, was also able to perform it to completion), and (in relying solely upon the work of God and not his own works) it was concluded (that he was exactly as he ought to be) for him (to appear in history as the heir of God's) righteousness (the heir of the world).

 

4 Now to him who (believes he can attain by the) works (of his own hands) is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt (as wages earned through the strength of the flesh, which brings the sting of death).

 

5 But to him that does not work (relying upon his own dying flesh), but (rests) believing (solely) upon God (as the only One) that (is able to) justify the ungodly (from the deadness of their flesh unto His life and immortality), his faith concludes (that he is exactly as he ought to be) for (him to appear in the likeness of God's) righteousness.

 

6 Just as David also declares the blessedness of the man (who looks to God and His grace alone to be exalted unto life), to whom God concludes (is exactly as he ought to be to appear in the likeness of His) righteousness apart from (their) works,

 

7 Saying, Blessed (and happy) are they whose iniquities are sent away, and whose death (is abolished and nakedness) is covered (who rest being clothed in the certainty of His life).

 

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not (keep a record of the wrongs committed against Him nor) regard the death (in his flesh as anything that can prevent Him from His life and immortality).

 

9 Does this blessedness come then on the circumcision only, or on the uncircumcision also? for (if) we say that by faith (toward God) Abraham was concluded to be (as he ought for God's) righteousness (to be his).

 

10 How was it then reckoned? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? (It was) not (reckoned) in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

 

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he received (from God while) yet being uncircumcised: so that he might be the father of all of them that believe, even if they are not circumcised; so that righteousness might be imputed to them also:

 

12 And the father of circumcision (of the heart) to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps and (exhibit) the same faith as our father Abraham, which (faith) he received when he was not yet uncircumcised.

 

13 For the promise, that he would be the heir of the world, was never to (be obtained by) Abraham, or to his seed, through the (works of) law, but through the righteousness which is of (the) faith (of God, the only immortal, to give it to you as a gift).

 

14 For if those who rely upon the (works of the) law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect:

 

15 Because the law works wrath (God's passionate reach and everlasting kindness, teaching and correcting those who do not know their works are the thing serving them with death, so that He might gather them to Himself): for where there is no law, neither is there (anything to reveal the) transgression (which is responsible for our death).

 

16 Therefore, it is of faith (of God), that it might be by (His) grace (and strength alone); so that the promise might be sure (and effectual) to all the seed; not only to the Jew which is of the law (the circumcision), but to the Gentile also which is of the (same) faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

 

17 {As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations}, before the One, even God, whom Abraham believed raises the dead (unto life), and calls those things which are not as though they were.

 

18 Who against (all) hope (in his own ability) believed in (the) hope (and certainty of God), that he might become the father of many nations, according to (the promise) that was spoken, so shall your seed be (as numerous as the stars).

 

19 And being not weak in faith (toward God), did not consider the deadness of his own body, when he was about a hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb:

 

20 He did not stagger at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, (looking to and) giving glory to God;

 

21 And being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform (to completion).

 

22 And therefore it was imputed to him (that he was exactly as he ought to be) for (God’s) righteousness (to manifest in him).

 

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

 

24 But for us also, to whom (the certainty of appearing in the likeness of) His righteousness shall be imputed, if we believe on God who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead (in human flesh that can never die again);

 

25 Who was delivered for our offenses (which missed the mark of His immortality) and was raised again for our justification (unto the same life and bodily immortality He purposed for us from the beginning).