For God openly set him forth for himself as an offering of atonement through faith, by means of his blood, in order to show forth his righteousness??ince in his forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed??o show forth his righteousness,

and he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the faith-righteousness which he had while he was in uncircumcision; in order that he might be the father of all who believe, even though they are uncircumcised; so that righteousness might be imputed to them.

For Abraham, hoping against hope, had faith to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So numberless shall your descendants be.

and was fully persuaded that what God had promised, he was able also to perform.

Through him also we have had our access into this grace in which we have taken our stand, and are exulting in hope of the glory of God.

Thus, then, sin came into the world through one man, and through sin came death and so death spread to all men, because all had sinned.

Nevertheless, from Adam to Moses death reigned as king, even over those who had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression. Now Adam is a type of Him who was to come.

What harvest-fruit then had you at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not. On the contrary I should not have become acquainted with sin had it not been for the Law; for except the Law had repeatedly said, "Thou shalt not lust," I should never have known the sin of lust.

But when sin had gained a vantage-ground, by means of the commandment, it stirred up within me all manner of lust; for where there is no law, sin is dead.

For sin, when it had gained a vantage-ground through the commandment, beguiled me, and through it slew me.

It is not, however, as though God's word had failed! For they are not all Israel who have sprung from Israel;

and even though they were still unborn, and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that the purpose of God might stand according to election, not of works, but of Him who called,

And what if he thus purposed to make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for glory?

Even as in an earlier passage, Isaiah says, Except the Lord of Sabbath had us some few descendants, we should have become like Sodom, and should have fared like Gomorrah.