Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible




What, then, shall we say that Abraham our father has found, as it respects the flesh? For if Abraham was. justified by works, he has cause for boasting, but not before God. For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. read more.
Now to him that works, the reward is not counted as a favor, but as a debt: but to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God counts righteousness without works, saying: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins. are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not charge sin. Comes this blessedness then on those who are circumcised only, or on those who are uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham for righteousness. Under what circumstances, then, was it counted? After he was circumcised? Or, while he was uncircumcised? Not after he was circumcised, but while he was uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, as a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was uncircumcised, in order that he might be the father of all that believe, even in a state of uncircumcision, so that righteousness might be counted to them also; and the father of circumcision to those who are not only circumcised, but who, also, walk in the steps of that faith which our father Abraham had while he was yet uncircumcised. For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, nor to his posterity, through law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they that are of the law be heirs, the faith is made powerless, and the promise is unmeaning; for the law inflicts punishment; for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore, the inheritance is by faith, that it may be according to grace, in order that the promise may be sure to all his posterity, not to those only who are of the law, but to those, also, who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written: I have made you a father of many nations,) in the sight of him in whom he believed, even God, who makes the dead alive, and calls those things which are not, as though they were. He, against hope, confidently believed that he would become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: So shall your posterity be. And not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body, which was already dead, (for he was about a hundred years old,) nor the deadness of Sarah's womb; and he doubted not, through unbelief, with respect to the promise of God, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform. For this reason, it was counted to him for righteousness.

even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Know, therefore, that those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham. For the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached beforehand the gospel to Abraham, saying: In you shall all the nations be blessed. read more.
So, then, those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

By faith Abraham, when called to go out into a place that he should afterward receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: even his first-born, did he that had received the promises, offer up, of which first-born it was said: In Isaac shall your posterity be called: for he concluded that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; wherefore he received him even in like manner.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? Do you see that faith was the moving principle in his works, and by works his faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God. read more.
Do you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only?


And not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body, which was already dead, (for he was about a hundred years old,) nor the deadness of Sarah's womb; Verse ConceptsBodyWeakness, SpiritualThe Age At FatherhoodWombLimitations Of The BodyGrace Verse LawWeaknesschildbearing


He, against hope, confidently believed that he would become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken: So shall your posterity be. And not being weak in faith, he considered not his own body, which was already dead, (for he was about a hundred years old,) nor the deadness of Sarah's womb; and he doubted not, through unbelief, with respect to the promise of God, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, read more.
and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform.

By faith Abraham, when called to go out into a place that he should afterward receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. read more.
By faith also Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and brought forth a child when past the time of life, because she counted him faithful who had promised. Therefore, there were born of one, who was dead as it respects these things, a posterity like the stars of heaven in multitude, and like the sand on the sea-shore, innumerable. All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. and having embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners in the land. For those who say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country. And if indeed they had been mindful of that from which they came, they could have had an opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, that he should be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: even his first-born, did he that had received the promises, offer up, of which first-born it was said: In Isaac shall your posterity be called: for he concluded that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; wherefore he received him even in like manner.