Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.” Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised! Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Romans 4:1-12 NLT
Tear down the walls that divide. In these verses, Paul gave the example of Abraham (and a psalm of David) to illustrate the point he made in chapters 1-3: we are right with God through faith (1:13; 3:21-24). This was not something new but as old as Abraham. He was considered righteous (right with God) because he trusted God. Circumcision was a later sign of this trust. The Jews in Paul’s day were proud of their religious separation, including circumcision, and looked down on those who were not circumcised. Paul was trying to show that Abraham is the father of those who have faith—the circumcised and the uncircumcised. Jesus gives forgiveness, righteousness, and salvation to all who trust Him.
It is so easy to be divided from others, so easy to look down on others. We look for ways to feel special and superior, and we even do this with our spirituality. In Paul’s day the people looked to circumcision, diet, and Sabbath keeping as ways of feeling superior to others. In our day it is economics, politics, going to church, knowing the Bible, and more. People refuse to forgive, repent, or heal the hurt—and so the world continues hurting. Jesus came to tear down the walls and to make our hearts truly right with God—by trusting in Him and following Him in obedience. Jesus tears down the walls that divide the world; only in our Creator and Savior can the world find true unity.
In your experience, what are the biggest things that divide people? How can accepting Jesus help you to tear down the walls that divide people, starting with yourself?
