Romans 4:9-13
Abraham is a "dual father". He is the father of the circumcision, the believing Jews of time past, but he is also the father of Gentile believers of this age. This is possible because he was justified (declared righteous) while he was still an uncircumcised Gentile like us. Galatians 3:6-9 shows that God foresaw that He would justify us through faith without any kind of works. Therefore God did not declare Abraham righteous in Gen 12:1-4 when he believed God and left his homeland. Believing that required works. But scripture waited until Gen 15:1-6 to declare Abraham righteous when he believed something God said that required no action on his part. Thus he was justified without works, like we are, and can be our father.
Romans 4:9-13
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
(Vs 9.)
What is "this blessedness" in the verse? Look back in verses 6-8.
Do we need to be Jews (the circumcision), to get God’s forgiveness and righteousness?
(Vs 10.)
Was Abraham declared righteous before or after he was circumcised? After. Then did he need to be circumcised in order to be righteous? No. So do we need to be circumcised? No! In other words, we do not need to be Jews to get God’s righteousness today. There is no need at all to be "spiritual Israel" as many think we are.
(Vs 11.)
Abraham was circumcised after he was already justified. Circumcision was a sign, or token, of the righteous standing he already had with God. But in time past circumcision was essential, (Gen 17:9-14). Remember from Rom 2:5-7 that God will give eternal life to anyone who is righteous? By believing in Christ, we get His righteousness, (Rom 3:22; II Cor 5:21). Therefore we get eternal life just like Abraham, our father, even though we are not Jews. In this age, Paul says in Gal 3:28,29, "There is neither Jew nor Greek,....And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Eternal life was only promised to Abraham and his seed because his Seed is Christ, (Gal 3:16) and Christ is the only way to get life, (John 14:6). So then, in Christ, we are the seed of Abraham, and inherit the promise of eternal life from him. Circumcision and being a Jew is no longer essential, (Gal 6:15).
(Vs 12.)
Abraham was the first man of faith to be circumcised, so he is also the father of all circumcised Jews of faith. Remember from Rom 2:28,29 that all physical Jews are not real Jews.
(Vs 13.)
Resurrection and eternal life are the underlying issue in all Abraham’s promises. Abraham understood that he would die before he would inherit the world, (Gen 15:13-16). Read Hebrews 11 and pay special attention to verses 9,10 and13-16 and 35-40. The Old Testament saints understood the issue of eternal life and resurrection from the dead. None of them have received their promises yet, but they will when Christ establishes the kingdom on the earth which they were looking for. That happens after we, the church the body of Christ, (Eph 1:22,23 & 2:15,16), are all taken off the earth to heaven, (I Thes 4:13-18).
When Abraham went to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, he knew that God would raise Isaac from the dead in order to fulfill the promises about Isaac, (Heb 11:17-19). This trial of Abraham and Isaac is a type or picture foretelling how God the Father would sacrifice His obedient Son and raise Him from the dead. (Gen 22:1-19)
Paul in Romans looks at Abraham from our viewpoint as Gentiles being justified by faith only. In contrast, James 2:20-24 looks at Abraham from a Jewish viewpoint. (James is written to the 12 tribes of Israel, James 1:1.) See the huge difference. Israel’s message required works. Our program today prohibits works for salvation, (Rom 4:5). But God has arranged Abraham’s justification so that he can be the father in both programs.
Read Galatians 3:14-18. In verse 14, what is the blessing of Abraham that we get? (Remember Rom 4:6-9.) What is the promise of the spirit that we receive? Yes, resurrection and eternal life! Gal 2:21 & 3:21 say that if we could get what was promised, which was life, by keeping the law, then Christ would not have had to die.
As Galatians 3:15-17 states, God made an unconditional promise to Abraham and his Seed, Christ, and nothing He said to Israel some 430 years later can alter it. Our promise of eternal life goes straight back to Abraham and Christ. It bypasses Israel and her law. We are NOT spiritual Israel and have no need to be. There is no verse that ever says that we become spiritual Jews when we believe God. However, most Christians teach this in order to make the whole Bible apply to us because, except for Gen 1-11 and Paul’s writings, the Bible is written primarily to and about Israel. During this present age, God has set Israel aside temporarily and revealed a new message through Paul that does not depend on Israel, (Eph 3:1-6; Rom 11:11-15).
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