Father Abraham (Rom. 4:9-16)
Image from Pixabay The apostle Paul makes a very big deal about Abraham being the father of both Jews and Gentiles, circumcised and uncircumcised, and that the way he is their father is through faith rather than through law. Notice what he says in verses 11-12: “And he received the sign of circumcision . . . that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 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.” Then in verse 16: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.” Now why is this such a big deal, and why should we think it is a big deal? Well, it has to do with ...
