Here is what A Commentary on Romans by Charles Hodge says about Romans, Chapter 4:
"The third argument (that Paul makes in this chapter) is designed to show that circumcision is not a necessary condition of justification, from the fact that Abraham was justified before he was circumsied, and therefore is the head and father of all believers, whether circumcised or not (vs. 9-12)."
I know that circumcision was an outward symbol, but wasn't that symbol deemed unnecissary because God's grace was there for everyone? Isn't that what the argument is saying?
If that's so, why do we need outward seals of a Christian's righteousness by faith? Why do we need an outward ratification and guarantee?
I understand that "having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13), but that seems as though it is something that comes upon you when you believe, rather than an act that is done as a ratification and guarantee.
Am I misunderstanding? Anyone have any thoughts? What do you think?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Missed you both last night, ladies. We had a really good discussion based on both your comments. I won't do justice to all we talked about here, but here's the upshot, as I understood it: Circumcision was a seal of the promise between God and Abraham and his descendants-- it was a spiritual mark from God, a symbol with no worth in itself-- it was a sign of the power and grace of God.
For us, we don't NEED outward seals of our righteousness by faith. We talked about how outward evidence of our righteousness such as love, patience, peace, etc. are an outgrowth of our relationship with God. It pours out of us and shows outwardly because of our gratitude to God and that is partly what draws others to our Savior.
Just as circumcision can be done, and continues to be done, by Jews and other people, it has no saving value in and of itself. In the same way, baptism and other 'seals/signs' have no power to guarantee or ratify our salvation, but they have value to mark a place in our lives; to be our line in the sand that reminds us of our faith journey and the place that we have come from with God.
ah! thank you for these answers! that helps me so much! :)
Post a Comment