Castlebar Christian Fellowship

Don't be content with just a signpost!


Reading: Romans 4:9-12.
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 the sign of circumcision, 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 also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Introduction:
I'll tell you a story I once heard about a road sign. It went something like this. One day a man was walking down a country road. He saw what looked like a very old notice board with a direction arrow attached. He saw that it was written in three languages. The language at the bottom, which he took to be a translation, was written in quaint English. (The other two languages happened to be ancient Hebrew and Greek.)
The English part read something like this. "About a furlong from this very spot a goodly banquet has been prepared for ye. Come, partake without money and without price and delight yourselves in the finest of fare."
Somebody scribbled with chalk on a flat stone nearby what they felt was a needed paraphrase. "Special offer: There's guaranteed good grub up ahead, including delicious hot apple pie with cream. It's all free! So come along and tuck in!"
As the man looked at the sign and wondered, others gathered at the signpost and the interest grew. One man, who knew a lot about ancient signs and even more about ancient languages, stood on a wall nearby. He raised his voice and made a very interesting speech. He explained to the growing crowd the amazing wonders of the sign. He explained its history; about how and when it was put up. He felt the original context was so important. He also explained, in great depth, the original languages and what the words meant to the people of the time. As he continued many were transfixed to the spot. They suppressed the now frequent rumblings of their stomachs in their quest for more knowledge.
Another hungry man as he walked along the road came upon the gathering crowd. He read the sign and took it as a message directed to him. Without further ado he thought "I better investigate this right away." He left the crowd behind and continued in the direction the sign pointed to. Soon his nostrils were filled with the lovely aroma of cooking. As he drew closer there was a beautifully set table. A waiter smiled and welcomed him and pulled up the chair for him to sit on. The traveller gladly set down and tucked into a wonderful four course meal finished off with hot apple pie and cream."
Amen. Here endeth the lesson!
The last time in this series when we looked at verses 1-8,we saw how Abraham, who came out of an idolatrous background in Mesopotamia, came into a relationship of being right with God, by simply taking God at His word. In v3 we read, quoting from Genesis 15:6, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Paul takes the story of Abraham and uses it as the classic example of justification by faith alone. Again by way of reminder Justification by faith is defined as - getting right with God, being acquitted in his court, being forgiven for our sins, being declared righteous and having the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and our sins imputed to him, (not becoming righteous, but being counted as righteous while we are still sinners), and all this by faith alone - that is what the first eight chapters of Romans are mostly about.. - End quote. (John Piper)
As we study and meditate on Paul's words in Romans we begin to see more clearly that this truth of justification by faith alone is a vital foundation for the Christian life. Paul wants to shatter any sort of ideas that we can somehow merit God's favour. He points out quite clearly that Abraham's acceptance with God was not anything that Abraham had accomplished but rather something that God had done for him. It was not something he had achieved but rather it was his response to God's gracious kindness. Abraham had believed God's promise and received right standing with God. Paul makes him the pattern for all believers.
We have already seen in Paul's words two important themes regarding justification by faith, when it's rightly understood.
First: It demolishes any reason for human pride and boasting. We are justified by faith alone and even faith is God's gift. (There is only room for boasting of God and giving glory to Him!)
Second: It reveals God's desire to bless us so that we might know true happiness! Paul reminded us of the experience of King David as described in Psalm 32. (All our sins are forgiven and His righteousness is imputed to us!)
Today's reading helps us to see that justification decentralizes important things so that the most important thing is in view.
It helps us see that justification destroys human demarcations and lets us know that the good news is for everybody.
The opening question of today's reading refers to two groups of people; Jews and gentiles.
V9 Is this blessedness (happiness) only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?
In other words is this promised blessing only for the insiders; is it exclusive to the Jewish people; the circumcised? Or is it also granted to the outsiders; the non-Jewish world; the uncircumcised Gentiles? This was a vitally important question in the first century and the issues it raises are just as important for us today. We read in the book of Acts, that many Jewish believers saw circumcision as an essential requirement for salvation. Acts 15:1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.
After all it was easy to reason that this distinguishing God ordained ritual, and sign of the covenant was a vital trademark of the genuine people of God. The Jewish mindset saw circumcision as of central importance. This of course created lots of waves in the early church as it began its mission to the Gentile world. The first church council at Jerusalem debated the issue and came to the conclusion that it was through grace alone that people got saved; grace and nothing else added. They were saved by the sheer generosity and unmerited favour of God. It wasn't grace plus something else or Jesus and something else. The Apostle Peter addressed the assembly and amongst other things recounted his own experience as he reached out to the gentile world. He explains to the assembly that God made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. Acts 15:9-11.
Paul gets back to the basic point that he had already declared regarding Abraham. Abraham had believed God and it was credited or counted to him as righteousness. V9b. We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.
Paul then moves on to his next question,
V10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!
This is a very important, which came first type of question? Which came first the Circumcision or the Justification?
Answer: Justification came first (Genesis 15) and then circumcision later.(Genesis 17) Paul is making a point that the chronology is very important here. There was a gap of approximately fourteen years between both events. (One rabbinic tradition says there was twenty-nine years between both events. - Douglas Moo). That has to mean at basic level that no rite or ritual no matter how special and even if its God ordained, has any part to play in our acceptance by God. As someone has pointed out, "It is more than the question of temporal sequence; it is that circumcision had nothing whatsoever to do with Abraham's faith or justification." (John Murray - Italics mine.)
Paul however does explain some important facts regarding the meaning of circumcision.
V11 And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.
He reminds us that circumcision is a sign (an outward token) and a seal.(An assurance, or confirmation that bore witness to the validity of something.)
Circumcision was not the basis for Abraham's justification or salvation. It was not some sort of condition that he had to fulfil before he was accepted by God. "A sign points to something, whereas a seal guarantees it. When an official seal was stamped on a letter or decree, for instance, its authenticity was guaranteed." (John MacArthur)
When Abraham received circumcision it "simply put a seal on what was already true" (Moo)
In several places in the Old Testament we see that God was concerned that his authenticating seal was on His people's hearts and not just on their bodies.E.g. Deuteronomy 30:6 "The LORD your God will change your heart (Lit.circumcise your heart. )and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!
A sign without the thing it signifies is useless. A seal without the genuine article is a fraud. Circumcision pointed back to the faith that Abraham had exercised in that major turning point in his life; that night when he took God at his word and God counted him righteous in his sight. Faith; trust; believing what God has spoken is the central issue here.
As I studied this I was reminded of an old saying: "A place for everything and everything in its place." Paul was not trying to invalidate circumcision. He wasn't going around saying, "Well that's just a load of rubbish, isn't it?" He wanted people to understand the true meaning of it and also to decentralise it from the pride of place religious people had given it. This is not at the centre. It's a sign but it's not the destination. It points away from itself to a deeper reality.
There is often a tendency to take the good things that God has ordained for a good purpose and change their meaning and purpose by putting them in the wrong place. It's a bit like getting the cart before the donkey. It's evident from the scripture that circumcision is not binding on a Christian. However there are many things that God has ordained for our blessing and we're instructed by him to attend to. Two very clear commands are The Lords Supper and Baptism. The outward signs of them are bread, wine and water and we believes that they point to something far deeper and more profound than they are in themselves. We also know that we're instructed to pray, meditate on the scriptures, fast on occasion. But listen, none of these wonderful things are at the centre and when we try to put them there we distort the gospel. None of these things contribute in any way to our right standing with God. We are justified by faith alone. The ordinances that Jesus has given us and all the Christian disciplines are an amazing source of blessing but they are not the centre; Jesus is the centre. You could say they are signs but if you don't by faith take the journey to the realities they point to; you've missed out totally on their meaning.
Paul goes on to tell us,
V11b So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. Abrahams right standing with God had nothing whatsoever to do with his participation in religious rites, even God ordained ones! The turning point in Abraham's life was in essence the same as all believers in all ages; "the hour I first believed!" And righteousness is credited or counted to each and everyone of us in the same way. Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. (Genesis 15:6)
Abraham is a model for all believers. (He is the father of all who believe) We have righteousness credited to our account in just the same way, without undergoing any religious ritual.
Paul reminds further down in the chapter.
Romans 4:23-25. The words it was credited to him were written not for him (Abraham) alone,
24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness- for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Jesus is our Justification. He is at the centre. He is the one that it's all about. We're justified by his cross (His blood, Romans 5:9) and we're justified by his resurrection. Back to Romans 3:24 We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Paul reminds us that the gospel is to be presented to all people. V11b So then, he is the father of all who believe.
The good news was never meant for just one group of people.
Romans 4:17a. As it is written: I have made you a father of many nations.
Ephesians 2:13-14. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
Because of Calvary there need no longer be alienation for the Gentiles; they need no longer feel like excluded outsiders. The old lines of demarcation are abolished. God has made a way for Jew and gentile to be reconciled in one body. By faith both Jew and Gentile can call Abraham their "father".
Romans 3:29-30 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith
Galatians 3:26-29. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Justification not only breaks down dividing walls but it opens up the way for the 'whosoever' to respond to God's gracious invitation. We can't over emphasize what's happened here. It not just that the access doorway in the wall has been knocked own or made wider but in fact the whole wall has been demolished to give unfettered access to all. By Gods grace all outward distinctions are removed and the Gospel is offered to all people, whatever their race, creed, economic or social status, education etc.


In closing Paul reminds us regarding Abraham,
V 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. Abraham is also the father of all who believe from a Jewish background. Their Jewish-ness or non Jewish-ness is not the point at issue. The question is: Are they following the example of Abraham by exercising a living faith?
As somebody has pointed out, "Paul is unwearied in his emphasis on faith. Circumcision or uncircumcision matters little, but faith is all-important" (Leon Morris)
Abraham made the journey of faith, from that first call in the city of Ur. Somebody said faith is spelled R.I.S.K. Abraham took the risk and stepped out.
When God called him out of his tent to look up at the starry sky and he heard God say to him so shall your descendents be in multitude, he believed the words God spoke into his life.
That's an interesting phrase in V12: "walk in the footsteps" (stoy-kheh'-o)
We're told it means (to range in regular line); to march in (military) rank (keep step), that is, (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety: - walk (orderly).
"Join the ranks." (Alan F. Johnson) "To march in file" (John Murray)
It's like there's an invitation inbuilt into this verse. We are encouraged to "walk, not abreast, but in file, following in the footprints left by Abraham." (Murray)
We are encouraged to step out in faith and join the ranks of all those who took the faith journey before us and Abraham is in the forefront of the procession.

Conclusion:
What a wonderful and liberating truth is found in justification by faith, when it's rightly understood:
It demolishes any reason for human pride and boasting. We are justified by faith alone. (There is only room for boasting of God and giving glory to Him!)
It displays God's desire to bless us so that we might know true happiness! (All our sins are forgiven and His righteousness is imputed to us!)
It decentralizes important things so that the most important thing is in view. It helps us differentiate between essentials and non essentials.
It destroys religious demarcations and lets us know that the good news is for everybody.