A Sign And Seal.

A SIGN AND SEAL.

Romans 4:8-14.

The Apostle Paul equates ‘the man to whom God reckons righteousness without works’ (cf. Romans 4:6) with David’s ‘blessed man’ in Psalm 32:1-2, “to whom in no wise will the Lord reckon sin” (ROMANS 4:8).

Paul poses the question as to whether this blessing is therefore only for the circumcised, or is it available for the uncircumcised also?: “for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness” (ROMANS 4:9). To determine the answer to that question, he asks when Abraham was justified: was it when he was in a state of circumcision or in uncircumcision? The Apostle’s answer is emphatic: “Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision” (ROMANS 4:10).

Far from being the ground or cause of his justification, Abraham’s circumcision was a “sign” of his justification (cf. Genesis 17:11), and a “seal” of the righteousness which he had received by faith even prior to his circumcision (ROMANS 4:11a).

The Apostle has already established that Abraham was not justified (made righteous) by works, otherwise he would have grounds of boasting - and who can boast before God? (cf. Romans 4:2). Neither was Abraham justified by circumcision since that rite was not introduced until AFTER the patriarch’s justification (ROMANS 4:11a). It stands to reason that, if Abraham was not justified by works, then neither was he justified by the law (which had not yet been given - cf. Galatians 3:17).

Paul refers to Abraham as the father of ALL who follow Abraham’s faith (ROMANS 4:11-12), both uncircumcised and circumcised believers (cf. Galatians 3:28).

In the Greek, the Apostle places the phrase “For not through law” emphatically, at the beginning of a sentence (ROMANS 4:13). The teaching throughout the Scripture is that Abraham, and his spiritual progeny, are justified (made righteous) by faith.

Yet the promise also relates to a land (cf. Genesis 13:15). In fact, the whole world is on offer for Jesus’ meek followers (cf. Matthew 5:5; 1 Corinthians 3:22). Thus, it is in the seed of Abraham (ROMANS 4:13; cf. Galatians 3:16) that all the nations of the world are being blessed (cf. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18).

The argument continues that, if the inheritance belongs to those who supposedly keep the law, then faith has been emptied, and the promise has been rendered ineffective (ROMANS 4:14; cf. Galatians 3:18). Law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no breach of the law, and therefore no wrath (cf. Romans 4:15; Romans 7:7-8). Salvation, covenant righteousness, justification - whatever we want to call it - has its source in God, and is received only by faith (cf. Romans 4:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).