ROMANS 4:11-13

Sunday Morning:  June 26, 2005

Text:  Romans 4:11-14  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:  12  And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.  13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

CIRCUMCISION, A SEAL

Romans 4:11a  And he received the sign (evidence, he was circumcised) of circumcision, a seal (the official signet) of the righteousness of the faith (after one is saved) which (righteousness) he had yet being uncircumcised . . . .

THE SEAL AND THE SIGN

Romans 2:29  . . . circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit (seal), and not in the letter (sign); whose praise is not of men, but of God.

ABRAHAM SAVED IN MESOPOTAMIA

Acts 7:2-3  And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,  3  And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

GENESIS 15:6

Acts 7:5  And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

BEFORE THE SIGN AND SEAL

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION

Acts 7:8  And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

ABRAHAM RECEIVED THE COVENANT

Genesis 17:7-10  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.  8  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.  9  And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.  10  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

FATHER OF THE ONES BELIEVING

Romans 4:11b  . . . that he might be the father (roll model) of all them that [the ones] believe [present active participle, believing], though they be not circumcised (before Genesis 17); that righteousness might be imputed unto them (the ones believing, present active) also:

ABRAHAM AND FAITH

Galatians 3:6-7  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children [sons] of Abraham.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

THOSE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED

Galatians 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

CIRCUMCISION STARTED WITH ABRAHAM

Romans 4:12a  And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but (both) who also [the ones] walk [present active participle, march in step] in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (before Genesis 17)

ABRAHAM AND PAUL OUR ROLL MODEL

Philippians 3:14-17  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  16  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk [present active, march in step] by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM

Romans 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

THE PROMISE DEFINED

1 John 2:25  And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

LIVE BY FAITH AND BE JUSTIFIED

Galatians 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

THE PROMISE IS CONDITIONAL

Galatians 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive [subjunctive] the promise of the Spirit through faith.

THE PROMISE MADE TO ABRAHAM’S SEED

Galatians 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

CHRIST RECEIVED THE PROMISE

Acts 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

THE PROMISE, KINGDOM INHERITANCE

Acts 2:38-39  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [deliverance] of [from] sins, and ye shall receive the gift (the promise, v.39) of [from] the Holy Ghost.  39  For the promise [singular in number] is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off (Gentiles), even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (called into His kingdom and glory, 1 Thes. 2:12)

THE PROMISE APART FROM LAW

Galatians 3:17  And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

THE PROMISE, INHERITANCE

Galatians 3:18  For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

THE PROMISE

Galatians 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given [aorist subjunctive] to them that believe [present active].