Romans 4:1

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh? [The word "found" means "obtained" (Hebrews 9:12) or "got" (Luke 9:12) Knowing that the Jew would resist and controvert his conclusion that the Jew would have to be justified by faith, just as the Gentile, Paul further confirms his conclusion by a test case. For the test he selects Abraham, the father of the race, and the earthly head of the theocracy. No more fitting individual could be chosen, for the nation had never claimed that it had risen higher than its head; therefore, whatever could be proved as to Abraham must be conceded to be true as to all. What, says Paul, in the light of our proposition, shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath obtained, by his fleshly nature, apart from the grace of God; i. e., as a doer of the law (Galatians 3:2-3)? Surely, he obtained nothing whatever in this manner.]