3 For what does the Scripture say? ^v“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now ^wto the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but ^xbelieves in¹ him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

17 Therefore, if anyone is ⁱin Christ, he is ^ja new creation.^{1 k}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, ^lwho through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^mthe ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling² the world to himself, ⁿnot counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^mthe message of reconciliation.

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, ^ywe have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.