The Signs or the Faith | Romans 4:9-12
The Text Romans 4:9-12 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Some Thoughts For the Jews at this time, being circumcised is what in their mind set them apart from all the rest of the world. Circumcision is what made them Gods chosen people, it was their stamp of approval, it is what they were counting on to make them right with God.
The reason why Abraham is brought into the conversation is to show that faith is different than circumcision. It is Abraham's faith and trust in Gods promise that was counted to him as righteousness, not the circumcision that came afterwards. There were pre-Abrahamic people who trusted God and were righteous.
This can be translated to the church today as we have many religious check-marks that we give to children to give them a false righteousness.
Infant baptism
Chatechism classes
Sinners prayer without repentance
Confirmation
Communion apart from salvation
Baptism apart from salvation
Church membership
When any of these items are given to a child before the true gospel is given and they are able to repent and place their own faith in Jesus alone, then we have only given them confusion and left them on the path towards hell.
