A Study of Romans (11)

Righteousness

We have been talking about this for a while now, but I will ask again - how are you made righteous?;

Is there something you have to physically act out;

Is it within your power at all;

The answer is this righteousness only comes through faith in Jesus Christ which is faith in God;

But, like the Jews, some in the church think it is something we must do beyond faith in order to be righteous;

The Jews took a “token” a “seal” of righteousness, circumcision, and made it a requirement for righteousness;

Abraham’s Salvation

Paul again turns back to Abraham as an irrefutable example, knowing that the Jews would try to twist the event;

Paul had prepared to address the hard questions about Abraham and circumcision let’s look at possible dialog;

The Book of Romans Circumcision and Abraham’s Salvation (Verses 9, 10)

So Paul must explain just why circumcision and legal ritual were given, and prove that those external religious practices were not the means of justification.

Abraham is the perfect example because of timing;

Paul starts with a question - “Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also?” - remember blessedness is being in a justified state;

So who is justified the circumcised or uncircumcised:

The Book of Romans Circumcision and Abraham’s Salvation (Verses 9, 10)

Of course, circumcision was necessary to salvation! Of course, an uncircumcised Gentile was not saved!

The Jews keyed on Abraham’s command from God about circumcision instead of the timing, so let’s look a Genesis 17:1, what is Abraham’s age 99;

But Abraham was “accounted as righteous” Genesis 15:6 at approximately age 85 or about 14 years before the circumcision command;

So therefore 1) an uncircumcised person can have the blessedness of justification and 2) circumcision is not the means of justification otherwise Genesis 15:6 is wrong;

People will take “tokens” or “seals” and make them of higher importance than their intention by God.

Abraham’s Seal

So after these facts there could have been a change of argument from the Jewish people;

The Book of Romans Circumcision as Abraham’s Seal (Verses 11, 12)

“Hold on, Paul. If the uncircumcised can experience right-standing with God, then why be circumcised? Why did God give it in the first place?”

Now Paul must address this question he cannot just walk away at this point;

Paul now goes on to clarify the point that circumcision was intended to be a “sign” or “seal: of righteousness - something that made them different and standout from the world;

The Book of Romans Circumcision as Abraham’s Seal (Verses 11, 12)

“Seal” means an image impressed on something for official identification, and Paul uses this word to explain more technically the word “sign” (token).

Consider the Southern Baptist Church and the ordinance of baptism - baptism does not justify (save) you it is an outward expression of an inward experience;

Abraham’s Identity

Abraham if known as the father of all who believe, let’s look at Galatians 3:7;

Paul now makes two assertions;

The Book of Romans Circumcision as Abraham’s Seal (Verses 11, 12)

First (11b), he asserts that Abraham, justified by faith and chosen by God to be the father of a spiritual covenant people and given circumcision as a seal thereof, became “father” of uncircumcised (Gentile) believers.

The Book of Romans Circumcision as Abraham’s Seal (Verses 11, 12)

Second (12), Paul asserts that Abraham is spiritually the father of believing Jews too.

Abraham’s identity is wrapped up in his faith in God, which brought about his righteousness, which is the exact same way we can be righteous before God through faith in Jesus Christ.