David Bahn – Reflections

Romans 4:1-12

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 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.

There is a somewhat potentially dangerous and more likely short-sighted way of distinguishing religion from faith. A friend of mine once said, “Religion is the way in which we try to manipulate God to get him on our side, while faith is living in the confidence that God loves us.” It should be obvious that seeking to manipulate God is foolish and misguided. But that is not the only definition of religion. James speaks of religion that is pure as one which takes care of widows and orphans and keeps oneself pure from the world’s corruption.

Here in Romans, however, Paul links religion and faith. He reminds us that Abraham was justified by faith. Paul is preparing to refute the claim to God’s favor based on outward obedience (circumcision) or ethnic identity (sons of Abraham). He makes the point that circumcision was a sign of identity that God had already bestowed. He was declared to be the father of many before he was circumcised.

In the same way we are declared righteous by God even before we believe, and certainly before we are baptized. Our faith receives the gift that God has already given. We may have great bona fides. We may be able to claim a great lineage of faith and faithful ancestors. But our greatest lineage is that of Abraham. And our religion ought always reflect God’s gift rather than our righteousness.