Romans 4:1-25 AMPC

[1] [But] if so, what shall we say about Abraham, our forefather humanly speaking-[what did he] find out? [How does this affect his position, and what was gained by him?] [2] For if Abraham was justified ( established as just by acquittal from guilt) by good works [that he did, then] he has grounds for boasting. But not before God! [3] For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed in (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God). [4] Now to a laborer, his wages are not counted as a favor or a gift, but as an obligation (something owed to him). [5] But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God). [6] Thus David congratulates the man and pronounces a blessing on him to whom God credits righteousness apart from the works he does: [7] Blessed and happy and to be envied are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered up and completely buried. [8] Blessed and happy and to be envied is the person of whose sin the Lord will take no account nor reckon it against him. [9] Is this blessing (happiness) then meant only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. [10] How then was it credited [to him]? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. [11] He received the mark of circumcision as a token or an evidence [and] seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised-[faith] so that he was to be made the father of all who [truly] believe, though without circumcision, and who thus have righteousness (right standing with God) imputed to them and credited to their account, [12] As well as [that he be made] the father of those circumcised persons who are not merely circumcised, but also walk in the way of that faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. [13] For the promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through [observing the commands of] the Law but through the righteousness of faith. [14] If it is the adherents of the Law who are to be the heirs, then faith is made futile and empty of all meaning and the promise [of God] is made void (is annulled and has no power). [15] For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either]. [16] Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants-not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all. [17] As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. [18] [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. [19] He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. [20] No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, [21] Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. [22] That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). [23] But [the words], It was credited to him, were written not for his sake alone, [24] But [they were written] for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, [25] Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God].