Abraham Justified by Faith (Genesis 15:1–7; Psalm 32:1–11; Hebrews 11:8–19)
1 UEB What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, found? BSB BSB: What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?
2 UEB For if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had a reason to boast, but not before God. BSB BSB: If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.
4 UEB Now for him who works, what he is paid is not counted as a gift, but as what is owed. BSB BSB: Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation.
5 UEB But for him who does not work but instead believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. BSB BSB: However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.
6 UEB David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness without works. BSB BSB: And David speaks likewise of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 UEB He said, "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. BSB BSB: “Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 UEB Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count sin." BSB BSB: Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
9 UEB Then is this blessing pronounced only on those of the circumcision, or also on those of the uncircumcision? For we say, "Faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness." BSB BSB: Is this blessing only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.
10 UEB So how was it counted? When Abraham was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? It was not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. BSB BSB: In what context was it credited? Was it after his circumcision, or before? It was not after, but before.
11 UEB Abraham received the sign of circumcision. This was a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had already possessed when he was in uncircumcision. The result of this sign was that he became the father of all those who believe, even if they are in uncircumcision. This means that righteousness will be counted for them. BSB BSB: And he received the sign of circumcision as 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 are not circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.
12 UEB This also meant that Abraham became the father of the circumcision for those who are not only circumcised but also for those who follow in the steps of faith of our father Abraham before he was circumcised. BSB BSB: 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.
Abraham Receives the Promise (Genesis 15:8–21)
13 UEB For the promise to Abraham and to his descendants that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. BSB BSB: For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14 UEB For if those who live by the law are to be the heirs, faith is made empty, and the promise is void. BSB BSB: For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,
15 UEB For the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there is no trespass. BSB BSB: because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
16 UEB For this reason it is by faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all of Abraham's descendants—not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all, BSB BSB: Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
17 UEB as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations." Abraham was in the presence of him whom he trusted, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist into existence. BSB BSB: As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
18 UEB In hope he believed against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what he had been told, "So will your descendants be." BSB BSB: Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
19 UEB Without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about a hundred years old)—and he considered the deadness of Sarah's womb. BSB BSB: Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb.
20 UEB But because of God's promise, Abraham did not hesitate in unbelief. Instead, he was strengthened in faith and gave praise to God. BSB BSB: Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 UEB He was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to accomplish. BSB BSB: being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.
22 UEB Therefore this was also counted to him as righteousness. BSB BSB: This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
23 UEB Now it was not written only for his benefit, that it was counted for him. BSB BSB: Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,
24 UEB It was written also for us, for whom it will be counted, we who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. BSB BSB: but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 UEB This is the one who was delivered up for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. BSB BSB: He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.