Paul asks what Abraham, our forefather, found. If Abraham was justified by works, he would have something to boast about, but not before God. Paul asks what the Scripture says. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." To one who works, wages are owed, not a gift. "But to him who doesn't work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness."
David pronounces blessing on the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin."
Was this blessing only for the circumcised? Paul notes that faith was counted to Abraham while he was uncircumcised. He received circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith he already had, that he might be the father of all who believe, whether circumcised or not. The promise that he would be heir of the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there disobedience. So it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, and the promise may be sure to all the offspring.
As it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations." Abraham believed God, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that are not as though they were. Against hope, he believed in hope. Without being weakened in faith, he considered his own body, about a hundred years old, and Sarah's age. Yet he did not waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, fully assured that what God promised he was also able to perform. This was written not for Abraham alone, but for us also, who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Jesus "was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification."