Abraham Justified by Faith
1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
4Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7“Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
9Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”4:17 Gen. 17:5 He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”4:18 Gen. 15:5 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Ginawang Halimbawa si Abraham
1Bilang halimbawa kung paano itinuturing ng Dios na matuwid ang tao, isipin ninyo si Abraham na Ama ng mga Judio sa laman. 2Kung itinuring siya ng Dios na matuwid dahil sa mga nagawa niya, sanaʼy may maipagmamalaki siya. Pero wala siyang maipagmamalaki sa Dios, 3dahil sinasabi sa Kasulatan, “Sumampalataya si Abraham sa Dios, at dahil ditoʼy itinuring siyang matuwid ng Dios.”4:3 Gen. 15:6. 4Ang ibinibigay sa isang taong nagtatrabaho ay hindi kaloob kundi bayad. 5Pero itinuring tayong matuwid ng Dios sa kabila ng ating mga kasalanan hindi dahil sa ating mabubuting gawa kundi dahil sa pananampalataya natin sa kanya. 6Ito ang ibig sabihin ni Haring David nang banggitin niya ang pagiging mapalad ng mga taong itinuring na matuwid ng Dios hindi dahil sa kanilang mabubuting gawa. 7Ang sinabi niya,
“Mapalad ang taong pinatawad at kinalimutan na ng Dios ang kanyang kasalanan.
8Mapalad ang tao kapag hindi na ibibilang ng Panginoon laban sa kanya ang kanyang mga kasalanan.”4:8 Salmo 32:1-2.
9Ang mga sinabing ito ni Haring David ay hindi lang para sa mga Judio, kundi pati na rin sa mga hindi Judio. Alam natin ito dahil binanggit na namin na, “itinuring ng Dios na matuwid si Abraham dahil sa kanyang pananampalataya.” 10Kailan ba siya itinuring na matuwid? Hindi baʼt noong hindi pa siya tuli? 11Tinuli siya bilang tanda na itinuring na siyang matuwid dahil sa kanyang pananampalataya. Kaya si Abraham ay naging ama4:11 ama: Ang ibig sabihin, ama sa pananampalataya. ng lahat ng mga mananampalatayang hindi tuli. At dahil nga sa kanilang pananampalataya, itinuring silang matuwid ng Dios. 12Siya rin ang ama ng mga Judiong tuli, hindi lang dahil silaʼy tuli sa laman, kundi dahil sumasampalataya rin sila tulad ng ating ninunong si Abraham noong hindi pa siya tuli.
Natatanggap ang Pangako ng Dios sa Pamamagitan ng Pananampalataya
13Ipinangako ng Dios kay Abraham at sa kanyang lahi na mamanahin nila ang mundo. Ang pangakong ito ay ibinigay ng Dios kay Abraham hindi dahil sa pagsunod niya sa Kautusan, kundi dahil itinuring siya ng Dios na matuwid sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pananampalataya. 14Kung ang mga nasasakop lamang ng Kautusan ang magiging tagapagmana, walang kabuluhan ang pananampalataya at ganoon din naman ang pangako ng Dios. 15Ang Kautusan ang siyang naging dahilan kung bakit may parusa mula sa Dios. Kung walang Kautusan, wala ring paglabag.
16Kaya nakabatay ang pangako ng Dios sa pananampalataya, para itoʼy maging biyaya ng Dios at tiyak na matatanggap ng lahat ng lahi ni Abraham – hindi lamang ng mga Judio na sakop ng Kautusan, kundi maging ng mga hindi Judio na sumasampalataya ring tulad ni Abraham na ama nating lahat. 17Gaya nga ng sinasabi sa Kasulatan, “Ginawa kitang ama ng maraming bansa.”4:17 Gen. 17:5. Kaya sa paningin ng Dios, si Abraham ang ating ama. At ang Dios na pinaniwalaan ni Abraham, ang siya ring Dios na bumubuhay sa mga patay at lumilikha ng mga bagay na wala pa. 18Kahit na wala nang pag-asang maging ama si Abraham, nanalig pa rin siyang magiging ama siya ng maraming bansa; gaya nga ng sinabi ng Dios sa kanya, “Magiging kasindami ng bituin ang bilang ng mga anak mo.”4:18 Gen. 15:5. 19Mag-iisang daang taong gulang na siya noon. Alam niyang matanda na siya at mahina na ang katawan. Alam din niyang si Sara ay baog at hindi maaaring magkaanak. Ganoon pa man, hindi nanghina ang kanyang pananampalataya. 20Hindi siya nag-alinlangan sa pangako ng Dios, kundi lalo pang tumibay ang kanyang pananampalataya. Pinapurihan niya ang Dios 21dahil lubos siyang umasa na tutuparin ng Dios ang kanyang pangako. 22Kaya nga, itinuring ng Dios na matuwid si Abraham dahil sa kanyang pananampalataya. 23Pero ang katagang, “itinuring na matuwid,” ay hindi lamang para kay Abraham, 24kundi para rin sa atin. Tayo rin ay itinuturing ng Dios na matuwid kung sumasampalataya tayo sa kanya na muling bumuhay sa ating Panginoong Jesus. 25Pinatay si Jesus dahil sa ating mga kasalanan, at muling binuhay para tayoʼy maituring na matuwid.
