Paul
the apostle asked the Jews in Rome,“Comes
this blessedness then upon the circumcision only,
or upon the uncircumcision also?”,
and he answered,
“for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.”
In
chapter four and verse ten of Romans, Paul asked, “how
was it reckoned? ...in circumcision?”
and answered, “but
in uncircumcision”
where we read:
The
verse begins, “How was it
then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? ”
Paul began with the word, “how”
which means “in what way” “was
it”
or “was Abraham's faith” “then”
or “therefore, accordingly and consequently” “reckoned”
which means “imputed, accounted, supposed, reasoned and numbered”?
“when he was in
circumcision”
which means “at the time Abraham was already separated from the
unclean multitude and truly consecrated to God”, “or
in uncircumcision”
which means “or when Abraham was not already separated from the
unclean multitude and truly consecrated to God”. Paul questioned
whether it was when Abraham was “circumcised or uncircumcised”
when God blessed him with “righteousness”.
The
verse continues, “
Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.”
Paul
answer with the words, “not
in circumcision”
which means “not at the time when Abraham was already separated
from the unclean multitude and truly consecrated to God”, “but
in uncircumcision”
or “but when Abraham was not already separated from the unclean
multitude and truly consecrated to God”. God “blessed” Abraham
with His “grace” before he was ever “circumcised”.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how God recognized
Abraham's “faith” and counted him “righteous”
before he went through the “rite of circumcision”. In other
words, he was physically like the “Gentiles” in the world, and
yet, God “blessed” him. This demonstrates God's
willingness to reach people all around the world - both Jews or
Gentiles, and everyone who will submit themselves to His Son Jesus
Christ as “Savior and Lord” shall be accounted as “righteous”.
May all who read these words know that God desires to have a
relationship with them regardless of whether they are “circumcised
or uncircumcised”.
Next
time Paul tells the people in Rome how Abraham, “received
the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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