1 WHAT shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [ Or what did Abraham do that made him so special? ]

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, [ Paul is speaking to the Roman Jews in the synagogue to the members who had accepted Christianty. If Abraham was righteous because of what he did then it was not the works of God. ] he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [ Or not that it was because of Abraham's works. He did not work and obtain that righteousness other than his character was one of righteousness. Or it was because of his faith in God, that if God said something then it was so. He believed God and therefore believed in God, and that was his righteousness. ]

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward [ Or if you are trying to work out your salvation by your works (ordinances). ] not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [ The debt is the fall of Adam. So are you trying to work out your own salvation by paying of the debt of Adam, so you are working to pay off the debt and not to receive a gift from God(grace). ]

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

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

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

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

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.

10  How was it then reckoned? [ Or when did Abraham's righteousness begin? When he was circumcised or after he was circumcised? ] when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, [ ] a seal of the righteousness of the faith [ This is why we baptise those as it says in D&C 20 "those who have brought forth fruits meant for repentance". So the ordinance comes after the willingness to become righteous. Or we are baptized to enter into a covenant with God because we are already willing to serve God and jeep his commandments. Our faith takes us to the point that we commit to change going forward, which then is a sign to God that this is what we are willing to do. ] which he had yet being uncircumcised: [ Or before he was circumcised. ] that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

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, [ Change of character to the point that they like Abraham want to serve God, and bless their fellowmen. ] which he had being yet uncircumcised. [ Or like Abraham who had these desires before he was circumcised. So he did not obtain the promised blessings because of the law, but rather he got them because of his righteousness before he received the law. LIke it sats at the beginning if this chapter it was his belief in God that made him righteous. ]

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.

14  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: [ Of you think that because you are descendants of Abraham that you are just naturally saved; if so then faith(action to do that which is righteous) is not needed, it does not exist, and therefore the promise is of no effect, because the promise is based on your righteousness. Membership in a church or lineage here does not seal upon you the promises of God, they only come from righteousness. ]

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. [ Again if you don;t have the law you are not condemned. No law no transgression or sin. Well of coarse that is so. if you do not know not to do something, if it has never been explained to you then how can you know. Jacob 9 ]

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,

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.

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.

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:

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

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

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

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

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;

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