whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness, because in God's forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;

He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be credited to them.

The father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.

Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, "So will your seed be."

and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be. However, I would not have known sin, except through the law. For I would not have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."

As Isaiah has said before, "Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been made like Gomorrah."