… ¹¹ and [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, ¹² and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

Exclusive access to the Sovereign God of Creation was not limited to the domain of the Jews! Nothing could be more clear from the account of Abraham. The Jewish objector whom Paul addresses must come to terms with this: the patriarch’s justification came before circumcision. Abraham is the father not just of the Jewish nation but of all who believe. This, we can say without fear of contradiction, would have been of earthquake proportion to the Jews of Paul’s day.

Yet sadly, they should have known this from their own Scriptures. At the very point where the patriarch was credited with righteousness, his original name, Abram, “exalted father,” was changed to Abraham, “father of a multitude” (Gen 17:4a). God’s own commentary gives us the explanation for this. It was because He promised, “I will make you [Abraham] the father of a multitude of nations” (Gen 17:4b). So His original intention was for Abraham to have a lasting effect on more than just the Jews. “In [Abraham] all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen 12:3).

The promise made to Abraham is a major pivot point of salvation history. In fact, we insist on the interpretation that our salvation today hinges on God’s promise to Abraham and his justification. When a person comes to justification through faith today, then Abraham becomes his spiritual father. Our relationship with God is a direct working out of His promise to Abraham.

Further, just being an ethnic Jew (that is, a physical descendant of Abraham’s) is not enough in itself. A Jew must be justified by faith as well, as those “who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.” One might chide the Jewish objector that he must become like the uncircumcised to come to faith, like Abraham, who was justified before being circumcised. Such would be abhorrent to the Jew who lacks a faith like Abraham. But to follow Abraham means to follow in faith, regardless of circumcision.

So today, we have followed in Abraham’s steps by believing God and His crediting to us righteousness and not counting our sins against us (2 Cor 5:19).

Lord God Almighty, along with Abraham I believe Your word to me and rest in Your justification.