And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.

And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.

He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.

because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.

For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand—

And just as Isaiah predicted:

If the Lord of Hosts had not left us offspring,
we would have become like Sodom,
and we would have been made like Gomorrah.

but, as it is written:

Those who were not told about Him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.