Word of life - Rom 4:9-10

                      Word of life: “Faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.

                 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised?

                      Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.” (Rom 4:9-10 NKJ)

What is emphasized?

Justification by faith. It is emphasized that he had this faith while he was uncircumcised. That is, while he was still a pagan. Abraham is presented to us in many parts of Holy Scripture as a model of faith. This faith of Abraham is the saving faith, though he did not yet know the mystery of God becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ and dying on the cross for our sins. Even a pagan who had no opportunity to encounter true Christianity can be justified if he sincerely seeks God, does not kill his conscience by false religious ideologies or meditations and has this Abraham’s faith.

Circumcision, which is spoken of, was a sign of a covenant between God and man, a confirmation that the person circumcised had the saving faith. If one did not have the saving faith, circumcision alone meant nothing.

The faith of Abraham stresses the essence, and that is a personal relationship with God. The essence of holiness, as we see in Abraham, is that he walked with God. This means that he lived in His presence, he realized that God sees him, and in all situations he reckoned with the living God. He made no rational conclusions without bringing them to the light of God. By faith, he left his native country and became a pilgrim. By faith, he received the promise that his barren wife would bear a son in her old age, and by faith also he offered his son to God in sacrifice because he believed that God can resurrect the dead. God placed conscience in every man. Every man, a pagan or a believer, distinguishes what is good and what is evil, what is truth and what is a lie. When man is doing something evil, he feels pangs of conscience. When he is doing good, his heart is filled with peace. Every man feels that death is not a definitive end, and by his reason he recognizes that there is God above us, before whom we must give account for good or evil which we have done. Everyone can recognize in one’s own life or in the lives of others what peace it brings if we follow the rule: As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them and vice versa, as you wish that others would not do to you, do not do so to them. This spiritual principle is emphasized even by the Saviour Himself.

One is aware of one’s sin. But no one can justify oneself. One can only be justified on the basis of the faith of Abraham who believes in God and bows down before His mystery. This mystery has already been revealed to us: our justification is accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose again for our justification.

Practical application:

 see the preceding Word of life (17 April - 1 May 2011)