1 What shall we say then that Abraham our forefather, as pertaining to the flesh (all Israel claims Abraham as their father. See 9:5. Luke 1:73. John 8:39. Acts 7:2), has found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereof to glory; but not before God. (Abraham had all the faith in the world.)
3 For what says the scripture? (See Gen. 15:6) "Now Abraham believed God, and it was imputed (logical) to him for righteousness."
4 Now to him that works (faith, could be a smile to someone down and out.), is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (When you work for God He owes you a debt. He pays you with blessings)
5 But to him that works not, but believes on Him that justifies the impious, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also says of the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works, (Ps. 32:1-connection of trouble with confession-connected by Divine forgiveness with prayer and praise and God's kindness-connected by further instruction.)
7 Saying (instructions to be blessed and happy), "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered over. (Covered by the blood of Christ.)
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Quoted from Ps. 32:1,2)
9 This blessing, then, is it upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (Circumcision has nothing to do with law of faith. Abraham received the promise 14 years before he was circumcised, circumcision had nothing to do with his righteousness and belief in God.)
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet in uncircumcision: to his being the father of all them that believe (lit. of all the believing [ones]), though uncircumcision; that righteousness might be imputed to them: (Faith - grace - law imputed.)
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For not through law was the promise (God's promise), that he should be the heir of the world (cp. Gal. 3:29 and Heb. 11:8-10), was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (in the promise.)
14 For if they which are of law be heirs, faith is made void (lit. has been emptied), and the promise made of none effect: (See 3:5)
15 Because the law works wrath (when you break a law you make God mad): but where law is not, there is neither transgression.
16 On account of this it is of faith, in order that it might be by grace; (unmerited favor, all the way back to the beginning.)
to the end the promise may be sure to all the seed (to every child of faithful Abraham, Israel and the Gentile nations alike); not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham (see 1:17); who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written (Gen. 17:5), "I have appointed you a father of many nations," (because through him, Christ would come)) before Him whom he believed, even God, Who makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were. (Primarily in Isaac. Cp. Gen. 15. He can call the future how its going to come to pass.)
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, "So shall your seed be." (Quoted from Gen. 15:5. As numerous as sand in sea and stars in sky)
19 And being not weak in faith (when God said it, he believed it), he considered not his own body already dead (as far as child bearing), he being about an hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God by unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (He started thanking God for it)
21 And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able to perform also. (God can do, can you? God has made a lot of promises, do you know them? Remind Him [not that He forgot them], talk to Him. He always keeps His promises.)
22 And wherefore also "it was imputed to him for righteousness." (Guaranteed in writing. imputed-logical, Bible-instructions on how to be happy in theses flesh bodies)
K4 j 4:23-25. Atonement made.
k 5:1,2. Result: Peace with God.
l 5:3-5. Not only so; glory also in tribulation.
m 5:6-8. Reason: the love of God in Christ.
l 5:9,10. Much more then; saved from wrath by His life.
k 5:11-. Result: joy in God.
j 5:-11. Atonement received.
23 Now it was not written on account of him, that it was imputed to him;
24 But on account of us also, to whom it shall be imputed, to us believing on Him (it is necessary) that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offenses (see John 19:30), and was raised for our justifying. (Legal term, not a religious word. Acquittal, not guilty, your sin is done away with, a written guarantee.)