Covenant Signs and Seals Romans 4:9-12

A. Introduction: It should not surprise us that Paul here in the Book of Romans uses Abraham in chapter 4 as the prime example of what it means to be counted as righteous before God by faith alone.

At the heart of Paul’s argument is the question of how the signs and seals of the covenant of grace relate to faith. And the example Paul uses is the Old Testament patriarch Abraham to show the distinction between the sign of circumcision and the faith of Abraham.

Look back at your text to verses 9-10 at the relationship of sequence in the life of Abraham:

I. The Sequence (9-10).

Notice that Paul uses 3 rhetorical questions that all drive his argument towards a certain conclusion. That conclusion is in regards to the order of sequence of Abraham being declared righteous by faith before God prior to being circumcised.

Abraham was declared righteous by God in Genesis 15 by his faith. God instituted circumcision as a covenant sign in Genesis 17. Abraham believed God long before God put a sign in place to emphasize the reality and fidelity of His covenant.

The Covenant sign of circumcision came after Abraham’s faith. Circumcision was a physical sign that illustrated a spiritual truth. It was the physical demonstration of cutting away the flesh as a covenant ritual of obedience in order to reflect the need for circumcision of the heart.

The Mosaic law code in Deuteronomy 10:12-18 instructed God’s covenant people to “circumcise” their hearts. And if you know your Old Testament then you know that they never lived consistently in such a way that showed that they were able to do this.

Their obedience reflecting a true circumcision of the heart was usually short lived. They usually were on their best behavior whenever they sensed God’s presence with them the most or whenever they needed God in a drastic way.

They illustrated for us the ebb and flow of fickle humanity with pin point precision. So much so that just to reflect on it can make all of us uncomfortable because we can see these same tendencies in ourselves so easy.

Temptations towards self-sufficiency arise from the pride associated with our fallen nature. God is at work initiating His covenant response to our pride by confronting it with His provision of sovereign grace to us.

God doesn’t leave us alone in this. He overshadows us in this so that fulfillment is assured and His covenant fidelity is upheld for us. This is what establishes the significance behind the sign and seals of the covenant. Look back at your text to verses 11-12:

II. The Significance (11-12).

Circumcision was significant because it was a sign and a seal of the righteousness that Abraham had by faith before he was circumcised. That tells us that circumcision was not the means or substance of Abraham’s righteousness before God. Abraham’s faith came first and then many years later came the sign and seal.

Circumcision had a spiritual significance for Abraham. It was far more than just an ethnic or external religious identity. It signified a spiritual reality in the heart of Abraham. Many of my Baptist friends like to deny this because of the New Testament sign of baptism being described as a circumcision of the heart made without hands by Christ (Colossians 2:11-15). And the identity of the true Jew being one who is circumcised inwardly in the heart and not outwardly in the physical body as Paul makes clear in Romans 2:28-29.

And this is where we need to ask a question at this point. Why did God command Abraham to give the sign of circumcision to his 8 day old son who had no faith? Why because if Isaac as an eight day old child had no faith then why does God command Abraham to give the covenant sign to the child?

And this was something that was to continue throughout time for the covenant people of God. I mean this would blow the sequence of faith and then the sign following out of the baptismal water. Why would God do this? Could it be there is a sequence of a higher priority than the relationship of the sign to Abraham?

Remember Christian, that God initiated His covenant in the direction of Abraham prior to Abraham responding to God. Abraham was not seeking God; God sought out Abraham and he would have been lost had God not revealed Himself to Abraham first. And God revealed the terms of His covenant to Abraham and Abraham responded in obedience because he believed what God had promised him. That is why God changed his name from Abram to Abraham.

The seal of righteousness that Abraham had by faith that circumcision signified was not initiated by Abraham. If God doesn’t initiate the terms of the covenant promise then there would be nothing for Abraham to believe.

The terms of the covenant were dictated by God to ensure that His covenant purpose would come to pass. So that God could redeem a people not just inside the covenant community but a people for Himself from among all the nations of the world by faith. This is exactly what the Apostle Peter declares in Acts 2:39- “39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.””

Why did God command Abraham give the covenant sign to His child? Because the undergirding significance of the sign is the ability of God to do what men are unable to do. What is the hope of your hope of salvation? Is it not the terms of God’s covenant of salvation initiated to you by His divine grace? Is it not the covenant initiating work of almighty God?

Last Wednesday evening the Cadets, along with the Gems put on their annual Pinewood Derby. I walked around and looked at all the cars and there were some really well crafted cars to behold. And as I talked to some of the Dad’s I found out in some cases that the Dad’s had a lot of time and effort invested in the creation of some of those cars.

So much so I saw that many of the Dad’s were as passionate or more so than their kids when it came to the race. I asked a few of those Dads if they built the car or did the kid? Only one said I was completely hands off. Most said something like they did it but I was right there helping. One Dad said I had to at times hold and guide their hands as they made their cars.

I wonder what the Pinewood derby would be like if Parents never did anything to initiate the crafting of the cars, absolutely nothing at all? Well Pastor there would never be a pinewood derby. No kits to buy, no cars, no track, no rules, no organized sequence of events, nothing!

Same is true of the covenant of redemption. No one would be a believer here today without God initiating His divine grace towards us and working it in us by His Spirit whom enabled us to freely believe the gospel. And no child in this world will ever come to faith without God initiating it in their lives from the foundation of the world.

Christian where do you put your hope for your children if not in the covenant promises of God. It is not the sign that save it is the sovereign grace of your covenant faithful God. Abraham believe God without seeing the end result of God’s purposes coming to pass. What about you?

Conclusion:

What about you? This promise is for you and for your children. What other hope do you have if not the initiating grace of God in your life and in the life of your children.

Unbeliever without divine grace initiating God’s work in you, there will be no salvation. But maybe today is the day that His grace will move on your behalf. The word has been preached and the hour of decision has come and your redemption draws near. Believe the gospel of Jesus Christ for salvation.

Believer the Covenant of Redemption is a divine decree of God that rooted in eternity past and has now came to bear upon our lives by the providence of divine grace. Come in full assurance of His faithfulness and confess your sins and find your rest in His forgiving grace to you in Christ. Let’s Pray!