Letters to the Churches

Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Destruction and misery are in their ways;

And the way of peace have they not known:

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.

But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;

for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;

for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.

Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.

We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also:

if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.

Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?

For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.

For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.

Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,

saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.