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.
In these two chapters (3 & 4) of Romans, Paul has a very large task. He is writing to the Christians at Rome, but some of them were from national Israel (Jews) and some of the were from the Gentile race. Those from the Jewish race had been taught, up to this point, that it was being “circumcised” that made them a People of God. Being “circumcised” is an “act of works.” They thought that by “them” doing that “act” they would be part of the family of God. Paul, from the beginning of chapter three is trying to show that group of people, in the church at Rome, that doing “works” (whether keeping the Law or being circumcised) was NOT the way to being accepted by God and part of His family. They mistakenly thought they were part of God’s family simply because they were part of Israel and that circumcision was the “work” they did to prove it.
To nullify that argument, in the above text, Paul goes back to Abraham, the farther of the nation of Israel. In this text he argues that Abraham was accepted by God on the basis of faith. He was “counted” as having faith BEFORE the Law or circumcision was even mentioned. This is Paul’s main argument. National Israel was chosen by God. But, their acceptance by God has ALWAYS been based upon faith, not works. Paul is telling the church at Rome, and us that their (and our) acceptance by God is based upon faith alone. Abraham is the example of the believer. He was circumcised, but as a result of his faith and acceptance by God, not to be accepted by God. So, too, our works are a result of our faith in Christ and acceptance by Him. Faith first - Works second!
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