How then was it
accounted?
While he was
circumcised, or
uncircumcised also?
Not
while circumcised but
while
uncircumcised. And he
received
the sign of
circumcision, a seal
of righteousness of
the faith
which he had while
still uncircumcised,
that he might be the
father of all those
who believe, though
they are uncircumcised,
that righteousness
might be imputed to them also,
Romans 4:10–11
The promise
to Abraham by God was not only a promise to the Hebrews; this promise applies
to all peoples, those who believe. This promise to Abraham found recorded in
Genesis 15 is that Abraham would have an heir, also to have many descendants,
and that by his belief be declared righteous, and that Abraham would inherit
land, a specific piece of land. Did this promise God gave to Abraham apply to
Abraham because of circumcision? NO! Circumcision was a seal given to Abraham,
a seal of righteousness of his faith, faith Abraham had before circumcision.
This seal, or sign of circumcision given to Abraham by God and commanded by God
to Moses to circumcise baby boys by the eight day was a sign of this promise to
Abraham and witnessed to all that the Hebrews were a special people of that
promise. Paul applies this seal or sign in this manner: “Was anyone called
while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while
uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and
uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters”
(1Corinthians 7:18–19). The seal or sign of circumcision is not one of
flesh; it is keeping the commandments of God. It is not some outward
demonstration of faith that God gives righteousness, for this promise to
Abraham is accounted to those uncircumcised in the flesh. Those Judaizers who
demanded that Christians go through this ritual of circumcision as though by
this outward cutting of the flesh amounted for a person to have a special
relationship with God. Paul states: Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers,
beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the
Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”
(Philippians 3:2–3). It is not some fleshly mutilation that is validity of
a person’s faith, or that he has received righteousness from God, it is the
circumcision of the heart that God demands, the previous seal of outward
fleshly circumcision was a type, the thing that represents what God is doing
for His children: “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the
heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and
with all your soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). There it is
plainly given, that we are to circumcise our hearts, to put off unnecessary
things, to cleanse our hearts, to Love our God, with all our hearts and with
all our souls, so that we may live, live eternally. For to Abraham was the
promise of a specific piece of land, so to we as one of God’s children have a
promise of a land, a land faraway, heaven where Jesus went to make for us a
home, a mansion, a room, where we will live forever. It is not by what we have
done or are doing that this promise is applied to us, no, it is be God who
imputes, who circumcises your heart, and what we admit is that we also then
apply this circumcision, this cleanness of our hearts in all that we do and
say. We must apply this circumcision of our hearts by loving our God, our
Savior Jesus Christ and this we can do for God indwells in us by the Holy
Spirit. We should be rejoicing because it is God, all God, and His promise to
Abraham did not end with Abraham, rather extended to the Hebrews, to the
Gentiles, and to us: “And the father of circumcision to those who not only
are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our
father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the promise that he would be
the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but
through the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:12–13). It is faith, begins
with faith, ends with faith, it is all faith and not some outward demonstration
of faith. Faith is internal, or the heart, and is to be our disposition that
our faith is shown by works, but works are not necessarily of faith, faith in
God. Works are so often done so that the person doing a work(s) is doing works
for reasons that are selfish, for oneself, for power, influence, for
admiration, and not for God. It is not works, or keeping the law: “For those
who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is of no
effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is
no transgression” (Romans 4:14–15). Faith, Faith, Faith, it is faith, and
that is the gift of God according to His grace: “Therefore it is of faith
that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all
the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of
the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16). Peter gives this admonition: “Therefore,
brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you
do these things you will never stumble: for so an entrance will be supplied to
you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
(1Peter 1:10–11).
Will you
live by faith, making your election sure? God will make you call sure as He has
promised Abraham and to you by the Apostles. You will receive an entrance,
supplied by God, abundantly, and everlasting kingdom, there is where you land,
your home is, and there is where you will live eternally. Praise God; Rejoice,
in the Lord, live by faith, that gift given to you by God.
But whoever keeps His word,
Truly the
love if God
Is perfected in him. By this
We know
that we are
In Him.
1John 2:5
You have sure confidence
Richard L. Crumb
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