And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness which is by faith: which faith he had, yet being uncircumcised, that he should be the father of all them that believe: though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also;

full certified that what he had promised, that he was able to make good.

That as sin had reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, by the help of Jesus Christ.

What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid: but I knew not what sin meant but by the law. For I had not known what lust had meant, except the law had said, "Thou shalt not lust."

Was that, then, which is good made death unto me? God forbid. Nay, sin was death unto me, that it might appear: how that sin by the means of that which is good, had wrought death in me: that sin which is under the commandment, might be out of measure sinful.

I speak not these things as though the words of God had taken none effect. For they are not all Israelites which came of Israel;

yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad - that the purpose of God, which is by election, might stand - it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller,

that he might declare the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared unto glory:

And as Isaiah said before, "Except the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we had been made as Sodom, and had been likened to Gomorrah."