The Joy of Faith

Romans 4:1-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

The Faith of Abraham

 ¹ Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? ² If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. ³ For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”^[a]

 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. ⁶David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

 ⁷ “Oh, what joy for those 

      whose disobedience is forgiven, 

      whose sins are put out of sight. 

 ⁸ Yes, what joy for those 

      whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.”