9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

 

Paul showed in the Scriptures we are justified before God by our faith, that is the natural conclusion. Faith saves us, not the fact that we are Jewish, however the plan of God was revealed through the Jews. This being the case means Gentiles who have faith also can have salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ’s work on the cross. The gospel of Jesus Christ hits right at the race issue. It is sad to hear that Sunday mornings are still the most segregated time of the week when various people go to their various churches according to racial differences. Faith in Jesus rips down the racial divide and makes us aware that faith unites us as one under Jesus Christ.

 

This was a radical message in Paul’s day. There was strong animosity Jews had against Gentiles, and Gentiles against Jews. Tremendous oppression is happening in India today because for the first time the untouchables, the lowest of casts in the Hindu system, are turning to Jesus Christ in large groups and recognize their new status. Riots have resulted. Racial discrimination is still an issue 2000 years later. United States for years has fought the race battle.

 

Jesus wins it by giving us love for one another as brothers and sisters in Jesus. All people of faith are Abraham’s children. Those who are circumcised, that is Jews, are included on the basis of their faith in God, and those who are uncircumcised are also included on the basis of their faith in God. So, Abraham becomes the father of many nations - nations of those who believe in the promise of God, to reckon to all of us the righteousness to those who are saved. As we’ll see in a couple of chapters, our faith in Jesus Christ as the means of righteousness doesn’t remove the need to live righteous lives. In fact, the opposite is true. If we claim a righteousness that comes by faith, we should be even more motivated to obey God and to live up to this new status we have before God.

 

In the Old Testament law, if Gentiles were circumcised and accepted the Jewish laws and traditions they could be accepted into the promise. Circumcision was more than a symbol. The Jews were pinning their hopes of heaven on a ritual of the flesh. Rabbi Menachem wrote, "Our rabbis have said that no circumcised man will ever see hell." A Jewish book made the following claim, "Abraham sits before the gate of Hell, and does not allow that any circumcised Israelite should enter there." Circumcision was far more that a rite, it was the point of entrance into a living and true relationship with God. To be uncircumcised means that you are unacceptable to God. It is a ritual that saves.

 

Look at what the passage says when Paul points out when Abraham was declared righteous. Was it after he was circumcised or before? Paul goes to the book of Genesis to show that circumcision was a sign of righteousness. He didn’t become righteous by being circumcised. (see vs. 11). It becomes very clear that Abraham was saved at the age of 85 in Genesis 15:6 by his faith. He wasn't circumcised until he was 99 years of age, (see Gen. 17:1-14). Even though the Jews believed that circumcision was required for salvation, the very man they revered so highly was saved long before he was circumcised. We see the same kind of mind set active in our world today. Many people attach spiritual significance to rituals like baptism, communion, church membership good works or acts of love.

 

The thief on the cross in Luke 23:39-43 trusted Jesus Christ for his salvation and he was saved. Yet, he was never baptized. He never joined a church. He recognized his sin and cried out to Jesus to save him, not from physical death, but “remember me when you enter into your kingdom.” Jesus responded, “Today, you shall be with me in paradise.”

 

Compare him to Judas Iscariot who lived and walked with Jesus for over three years. He was baptized, heard Jesus’ teaching, traveled with the disciples and was used as one of the disciples to perform miracles. Yet Jesus Himself looked at Judas and said that he was a lost sinner! The theif had faith in Christ to save him and the Judas did not.

 

Dale