5But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is not God unrighteous in inflicting wrath? (I speak humanly).
6God forbid: for how then shall God judge the world? 7For if the truth of God by my lying hath more abundantly contributed to his glory; why am I notwithstanding judged as a sinner? 8And why not admit, (as we are falsely reported of; and as some affirm we say,) That we should do evil things, that good may come? whose condemnation is just. 9What then? have we pre-eminence? Not at all: for we have before proved that both the Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10as it is written, “There is not a just person, no not one: 11there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12All are turned aside together, they are become worthless; there is none that doeth good, there is not even one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have spoken craftily; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15their feet are swift to shed blood: 16destruction and misery are in their ways. 17And they have not known the way of peace: 18there is not the fear of God before their eyes[52].”
19Now we know that whatsoever things the law saith, it speaks to those who are under the law: that every mouth might be sealed up, and all the world become criminal before God. 20Wherefore by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified before God: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now distinct from the law the righteousness of God is manifest, receiving testimony from the law and the prophets; 22the righteousness of God indeed by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe: for there is no difference: 23for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus: 25whom God hath proposed as the propitiatory sacrifice through faith in his blood, in demonstration of his justice for the remission of past sins, through the patience of God; 26for a demonstration of his justice at this present time: that he might be just, though justifying him who is of the faith of Jesus.
27Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. 28We conclude therefore that by faith a man is justified, without works of law. 29Is he the God of the Jews only, and is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, verily, of the Gentiles also: 30since it is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.
31Do we then abolish the law through faith? God forbid: but on the contrary, we give the law stability.
[CHAP. IV.]
WHAT then shall we say that Abraham our father hath obtained by the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath cause for glorying; though not before God. 3For what doth the scripture say? Abraham truly believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness[53]. 4Now to him that worketh, the reward is not brought to account as a favour, but as a debt. 5But to him who doth not work, but believeth in him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned in account for righteousness. 6As David also describeth the blessedness of that man, to whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7“Blessed are they whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered up. 8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will in nowise impute sin[54].” 9This blessedness then, is it for the circumcision, or for the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. 10How then was it imputed to him? when circumcised, or while uncircumcised? Not when circumcised, but whilst uncircumcised. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had when uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all those who believe, though uncircumcised; that to them also the righteousness might be imputed: 12and the father of circumcision, not to those who are of the circumcision merely, but who also tread in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he exercised while uncircumcised. 13For not by the law came the promise to Abraham and his seed, that he should be heir of the world, but by the righteousness of faith. 14For if they who are of the law are heirs, faith becomes vain, and the promise is useless: 15for the law causeth wrath: for where there is no law, neither is there transgression.
16Therefore it is by faith, that it might be of grace; in order that the promise might be secured to all the seed; not only to that which is of the law, but to that which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(as it is written “that I have constituted thee father of many nations[55],”) before God, in whom he trusted, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth things that are not as if existing. 18Who contrary to hope, in hope believed, that he should be the father of many nations, according to what was said, “So shall thy seed be[56].” 19And not being weak in faith, he regarded not his own body now deadened, being about an hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20for he disputed not against the promise of God with unbelief; but was mighty in faith, giving glory to God; 21and enjoyed the fullest assurance, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake only, that it was imputed to him; 24but also for our sakes, to whom it will be imputed, if we believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25who was delivered up for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
[CHAP. V.]
BEING justified therefore by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2by whom also we have had an introduction through faith into this grace in which we have stood fast, and are rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.