Therefore, is this blessing
upon those of the circumcision or also upon those of the uncircumcision? For we say, “Faithfulness was being credited
to Abraham into righteousness.”
Therefore how was it being credited?
While being circumcised or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in
uncircumcision! He received a sign of
circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of the faithfulness in uncircumsion
in order for him to be the father of all the ones who are faithful in
uncircumcision in order that righteousness would be also credited to them as
well. Also, he is the father of
circumcision to the ones not only out of circumcision but also to the ones who
walk in the footsteps of the faithfulness in uncircumcision of our father
Abraham.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
Paul makes quite an astute argument. Paul wants to clarify when it was that Abraham
received the credit to his faithfulness.
The truth is that the quote to which Paul continues to refer is from
Genesis 15:6. Abraham doesn’t receive
the covenant of circumcision until Genesis 17.
Clearly, Abraham receives credit to his righteousness while being
uncircumcised! God didn’t start His
relationship with Abraham after he was circumcised; God started His
relationship with Abraham while he was a Gentile! Therefore, Paul’s conclusion is that
circumcision is not of ultimate importance.
It is important, but not of ultimate importance.
Are you surprised to realize the force of Paul’s
argument? Why is it significant to
realize that God had a relationship with Abraham before he was obedient to God? How does this speak to you about whether God
loves people because they are obedient to Him or if people are obedient to God
because He loves them?
Second Thought:
Paul then makes the connection from Abraham to all
Gentiles. If Abraham can be in
relationship with God prior to his obedience in covenant, then anyone can be in
relationship with God outside of the covenant.
In other words, Abraham is not only the father of the Jews but also of
the Gentiles who are faithful to God.
Abraham is the father of all people of faith, because faithfulness does
not come from us but from God. As it is
God who gives us the ability to be faithful in any case, it is not obedience to
the Law that makes one an offspring of Abraham but rather a humbleness to God
for Him to create faithfulness within us.
Have you ever considered yourself to be an heir to
Abraham? How easy is it for you to
accept that it is God who creates faithfulness in us rather than we who create
faithfulness in ourselves? How easy is
it for you to accept that it isn’t what you do that makes you an heir but what
God does through your humbleness?
Third Thought:
In the last verse of this section – admittedly a very long
and convoluted verse – Paul makes the claim that even those of the circumcision
are really following the faithfulness of Abraham before he was
circumcised. Clearly, Paul would agree
that obedience to God is a good thing.
Thus, Paul isn’t saying that the Jews are any worse. In fact, he is actually saying that they are
in a better position because of their obedience. However, it is not their obedience that saves
them. Rather, they are saved through the
faithfulness that God instills within them.
Their obedience is merely evidence that God’s faithfulness is within
them.
Why is it easy to take pride in our work? Why is it important to remember that it
always goes back to faithfulness – God’s work in us? What role do good works have for us? Why is it important to do good things if they
aren’t what saves us?
Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 4:13-15
No comments:
Post a Comment