Romans 4:12
12 And [kai] the father [pater] of circumcision [peritome]
to them who are not [ou] of [ek] the circumcision [peritome]
only [monon], but [alla] who also [kai] walk [stoicheo] in the steps [ichnos] of
that faith [pistis] of our [hemon] father [pater] Abraham [Abraam], which he had being [en]
yet uncircumcised [akrobustia]. KJV-Interlinear
12 and
to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but
who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before
he was circumcised. ESV
Just as circumcision served as a reminder of the
obedience of Abraham in his faith, so too, today we have additional reminders
of our faith in Christ, namely baptism and the communion table. Neither of these save, but they serve to
remind us of our faith in Christ, which is the source of our eternal life.
And so too, the Israelites and today also called Jews,
have that tradition which they can claim as direct descendants of Abraham, even
though there is no true or pure race on this planet, given the many movements
or peoples and wars and such that have served to comingle all races in some
form or another, into a mixture that has long ago eliminated purity as a claim
by anyone.
But the true descendant of Abraham is through his
example of faith. Neither race nor
circumcision, nor even gender can be claimed as a direct tie to Abraham, or
anyone else for that matter.
There is but one true connection, and that is through
the Christian connection which is by faith, that we are all connected as being
saved and destined for heaven. And that
throws out all differences due to race, color, culture, social status, class, gender,
etc., etc., etc.
Abraham was saved long before he was circumcised. He was saved by faith just as Job, Noah, Methuselah,
Enoch, and Adam were saved by means of their faith. The only difference was that Abraham was given
the privilege of confirming his faith through the reminder of circumcision so
as to help teach and remind others who would come after him. And since Abrahams
time, there have been many, many generation right up until the present day and
beyond, of people who can learn and believe as Abraham did.
