3. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
4. When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.
5. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
6. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:
7. “Oh, what joy for thosewhose disobedience is forgiven,whose sins are put out of sight.
8. Yes, what joy for thosewhose record the lord has cleared of sin.”
9. Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith.
10. But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!
11. Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.