Unlimited: Following in Abraham’s Footsteps
Jul 18, 2022 1462
And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised (Romans 4:12).
Paul’s argument here is that because Abraham is our father, both of the Jews and the Gentiles (the circumcised and the uncircumcised) then we should follow in the footsteps of salvation that he followed. This means that we are to be saved by having faith credited to our account through believing in Jesus.
Many people read this verse as if it were a verse about works, in the sense that they think that Paul is talking about Abraham’s struggle to believe the promise throughout all his life, with all of his failures and victories, and that we are to follow in the same steps. In this way they turn what Paul is saying to focus on Abraham’s works. “Faith” for them becomes synonymous with living the “faithful” life.
We should follow in the footsteps of salvation that Abraham followed.
But that’s not what Paul is saying at all. In fact, Paul is strongly arguing for quite the opposite in this verse. What Paul is saying is that Abraham simply believed once, and his faith was credited to him as righteousness once. The implication is that because Abraham kept on believing, despite all of the struggles and desperate failures of his life, he retained the righteousness that was credited to his account. It was never, in any shape or form, an “earned” or even a “deserved” righteousness.
Spiritual Application
Read the story of Abraham in Genesis chapters 12 – 22. In what ways is Abraham your spiritual father?
Robin Hahn
Jul 23, 2022
I actually clicked on the link to Biblia and read that story about Abram / Abraham. What an interesting story, one that made a great point about righteousness in us humans. Here's the 'Father of Many Nations' who, long before any covenant (circumcision) did what the Lord asked him to - believe - and it was credited to him as righteousness. But what was telling to me was what he did afterwards. His life was chequered with all sorts of behaviour that no one would deem the acts of a 'righteous man'. Still, he kept coming back to God and even when asked to do what to our western sensibilities would seem horrific - sacrificing his only son - believed and obeyed. It seemed he believed MOST when things looked the most impossible, and behaved least like a believer when deception seemed a reasonable course of action. His was a flawed character, but he was credited with righteousness, nevertheless. There's hope for all of us.
binance
Dec 5, 2024
Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!