Romans 4:11-12 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, 12 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.
Paul traces faith back before circumcision. Circumcision was the identity mark for Israel. Many Jews of Paul’s time appear to have made it a significant sign for those in and out of the special covenant people of God. Abraham’s circumcision was meant to be a sign and seal of his faith and the resulting righteousness that he had before he was circumcised. Faith came first because it is universal. Anyone can believe. One does not need to be circumcised to be a believer. The logical conclusion of this is that righteousness is available to everyone, not just the Jews. Circumcision still has significance for the Jews only if it represents the deeper commitment of the heart (see Romans 2:28-29). Paul moves Judaism from the physical to the spiritual where it should have been the whole time. What really matters is faith leading to a new creation (Galatians 6:15). Abraham’s life is a historical example of all of this. Today, rituals, liturgy, church affiliation, family connections, and anything physical does not matter in righteousness. These things can be helpful and they have their place, but what is most crucial is faith.
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