And mayest overcome when thou art judged.
5But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who takes vengeance? (I speak as a man.) 6Far be it! For then how shall God judge the world? 7For if the truth of God through my lie, abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8And why not, as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say: Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose judgment is just.
9What then? Are we better? No, in no wise; for we before charged, that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin. 10As it is written: There is none righteous, no, no one; 11there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, there is not so much as one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; 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 the way of peace they have not known. 18There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Because by works of law no flesh shall be justified in his sight; for by law is the knowledge of sin.
21But now, apart from law, a righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22a righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all that believe; (for there is no difference; 23for all sinned, and come short of the glory of God;) 24being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; 25whom God set forth as a propitiation through faith by his blood, for the exhibition of his righteousness, because of the passing over of the sins before committed in the forbearance of God; 26for the exhibition of his righteousness in this present time, that he may be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.
27Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. 28Therefore we reckon that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law. Is he the God of Jews only? 29Is he not also of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also; 30seeing that God is one, who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith. 31Do we then make void law through the faith? Far be it! Yea, we establish law.
IV. What then shall we say that Abraham our father found, as pertaining to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has ground of boasting; but not before God. 3For what says the Scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. 4Now to him that works, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as a debt. 5But to him that works not, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness. 6As also David speaks of the happiness of the man, to whom God reckons righteousness, apart from works:
7Happy they, whose iniquities were forgiven,
And whose sins were covered;
8Happy the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin!