Romans 4

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

Let's take Abraham as an example. From a human viewpoint he is the father of our nation. Let's ask, “What was his experience?”

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.

For if Abraham was set right by what he did, he would have had something to boast about—but not in God's eyes.

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

However, what does Scripture say? “Abraham trusted God, and so he was considered as being a good person who did right.”

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

Whoever works gets paid—it's not considered as a gift, but because they've earned their wages.

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

But God, who makes sinners right, considers them as right not because they've worked for it but because they trust in him. This is why

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

David speaks of the happiness of those whom God considers as right, and not because they worked for it:

7 [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

“How happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

How happy are those the Lord does not consider sinful.”

9 [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Now is this blessing just for the Jews, or is it for others too? We've just stated that Abraham was accepted as good and right because he trusted God.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

But when did this happen? When Abraham was a Jew or before?

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which [he had yet] being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

It was actually before he became a Jew by being circumcised, which was a confirmation of his trust in God to make him right. This happened before he was circumcised, so he is the father of everyone who trusts in God and are considered as right by God, even though they may not be circumcised Jews.

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.

He is also the father of circumcised Jews not merely because they're circumcised, but because they follow the example of the trust in God our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

God's promise to Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him was not based on his keeping of the law, but because he was made right through his trust in God.

14 For if they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

For if the promised inheritance is based on keeping the law, then the issue of trusting God is not necessary, and the promise is pointless.

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression.

For the law results in punishment—but if there's no law then it cannot be broken.

16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

So the promise is based on trusting God. It is provided as a free gift, guaranteed to all the children of Abraham—not merely to those who follow the law, but also to those who trust like Abraham, the father of us all.

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, ) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

As Scripture says, “I've made you the father of many nations.” For in the presence of God, Abraham trusted in the God who makes the dead alive and speaks into existence what didn't previously exist.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Against all hope Abraham in hope trusted God, so he could become the father of many peoples, just as God had promised him: “This is how many descendants you'll have!”

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:

His trust in God didn't weaken even though he thought his body was practically dead (he was around a hundred years old), and knew that Sarah was too old to have children.

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

He held on to God's promise—he didn't doubt it. Instead his trust in God grew stronger, and he gave glory to God.

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

He was totally convinced that what God had promised he had the power to deliver.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

That's why Abraham was considered right by God.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

The words “Abraham was considered right” weren't just written down for his benefit.

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

They were for us too, those of us who will be considered as right, since we trust in God who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and was raised to life to make us right.