Circumcision vs. Faith Romans 4:9-16
Paul now goes on to address the issue of pride once more. The Jews looked down on all others because God had given them the seal of circumcision to show that they are His people and the He is their God Gen. 17:10. According to verses 9 and 10, circumcision gets you nowhere. It is simply a sign. It is very much like baptism of today. Baptism does not save us but it is simply a picture of what God has done for us.
Circumcision is also just a physical sign. Duet. 10:16, 30:6, and Jer. 4:4 teach us that God is more concerned about circumcision of the heart. It is the heart that matters most and it is the heart that God sees. Circumcision is a cutting away of one thing to reveal something else. The same is true of circumcision of the heart. God wants to cut away all the sin and weight that doth so easily beset us to reveal God’s righteousness through us.
Just as physical circumcision is painful, so is spiritual circumcision. It is painful but must be done for God to be revealed through us. It is for our spiritual health. The more we allow God to circumcise, the more Christ-like we become. The more Christ- like we become the more of the abundant life we can live bringing honor to Him.
Paul then wraps up the section by reminding us that righteousness is wrought through faith. Works and circumcision do not matter at all. The only thing that matters is what you do with Christ and what you allow Christ to do with you. The choice is yours and mine. Will you choose Christ this day?