Romans 4:11-12 - The Sign and Seal of Righteousness

Romans 4:11-12 - 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.

Message: Circumcision is a visible sign to others of a change that already took place.

Time: The date of the book is probably 60 A.D. written from Corinth on Paul's third missionary journey. The church in Rome seems to be established and Romans does not speak of any one error in the church that he is addressing. The church had a large Jewish element, but also filled with Gentile converts from paganism, both free as well as slaves.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Background
Paul continues here to respond to a question that he feels like the Jew would have still. If there is one thing that Paul continues to address over and over it is that all people, whether Jew or Gentile, have the same standard and are saved the same way. There is one God, one Savior, one Lord, and one way of salvation.

In the beginning of chapter 4, Paul went back to two patriarchs, Abraham and David, to show that each believed God and was credited with righteousness. Faith in God doesn't make us righteous, but it is the vehicle in which God uses to transfer or credit righteousness to man.

Verses 11 and 12 shift back to Abraham. Verses 9 and 10 began the presentation on circumcision by stating that having Faith in Christ and believing that Jesus took the punishment for our sins, that we needed a ransom, believing God, this occurred before circumcision. And this blessing is granted or availed both to the circumcised and the uncircumcised. There is no distinction. All have sinned. All equally need God's grace.

Overview
Paul has declared the simple message that a person is credited righteousness before being circumcised, so what then happens when a person is circumcised. Here in these verses he speaks that there is value in circumcision. There is a reason we get baptized, go to church, pray, ask for forgiveness, admit our sin. It is true that those things don't make us right before God, but it doesn't mean that we have no need to ever do those things.

Verse 11 reiterates that circumcision was a sign of the change that took place in Abraham's life before he was circumcised. For the Gentile, baptism is clearly the ordinance that is closely related to circumcision and can at times take on the same level of confusion to the Gentile that circumcision has received for the Jew. What circumcision shows is that Abraham was declared righteous, not being circumcised, but when he was uncircumcised.

When a person graduates from high school they receive a diploma. The graduation ceremony and the receiving of the diploma doesn't make the person a graduate. The person became a graduate through the passing of their courses. And the diploma is simply the sign that they passed. This is what circumcision is, as well as baptism.

Verse 12 then reminds the Jew that circumcision is not imperative. To me, this is the thing that people have the most trouble with in understanding grace. Works follow grace, but works don't define grace. Works don't provide an opportunity to receive grace. We exhibit works because of grace. And we will exhibit works, but that doesn't mean that works have anything to do with acquiring grace. Galatians 3:29 states that we are spiritual heirs of Christ because of the promise.

I think more clearly what Paul is saying that the physical act of circumcision is not even what makes a person circumcised. That when Christ saves us and righteousness is credited to our account a circumcision of our heart takes place. We see circumcision as a visible change. But Christ already knows circumcision has taken place because faith credited righteousness to our account.

TableTalk note: 
As I read and study through Tabletalk, I notice their belief that baptism can occur as an infant. There point is that baptism, as the sign of a circumcised heart, can occur before a person is credited with righteousness. The issue isn't that baptism saves. Church membership often follows baptism which follows conversion, but that doesn't mean that is the only way. Church membership and baptism can precede conversion. This is the point the reformers are making, I believe.

Promise: God makes a person righteous, not circumcision.