Romans chapter 4

vs 9

So here's the big question that Paul wants to answer - can gentiles be counted as people of the promises of God?

vs 10

Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness before he received the covenant of circumcision, and Paul uses this fact to argue that therefore righteousness can be credited to those with faith, rather than without hats.

vs 11

He goes further to say that Abraham received circumcision as a sign to prove therighteousness he was credited in order that he might be able to represent both camps, so that righteousness could go to both.

vs 12

Complicated passage, but here's what I think Paul's saying. Paul is saying that Abraham is a father of faith - that his sons and daughters are sons and daughters of faith. If you aren't circumcised, then that's ok - you still need to have the faith of Abraham to be under his covenant of righteousness. If you are circumcised, you are also a child of Abraham, but only if you are also following in the faith that Abraham had, even before he was circumcised.

vs 13

The Law hadn't even been written yet!

vs 14

If law brings righteousness instead of faith, then faith is worthless. Sad but true, and yet so many people live by law. It's funny, but Paul doesn't feel the need to defend the value of faith - he believes that those reading this will understand the value of faith, and realise that any argument that makes faith valueless is worthless.

vs 15

This verse does two things. Firstly, it shows that the reason you can't depend on law for your inheritance is because law only brings wrath. There's no righteousness imparted by the law.

Secondly, though, if there is no law, there is no transgression - so we need law because if there was no law, there would also be no need for faith.

vs 16

So while the existance of the law is a necessity to bring wrath and to highlight transgression, the righteousness that makes our relationship with God possible can't come by that law - it has to come by faith. And the reason Abraham happened when he did - before Mosaic Law - was so that this righteousness would be open to anybody.