Tuesday 04 February 2014

Background

Paul explained how the founding ancestor Abraham of the Jewishreligion fitted into the story of Christian salvation, as a modelof one who had faith, as a pattern for both Jew and Gentile (nonJew). God had called Abraham in his old age to leave his homelandand journey to a promised land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1-9), which would bring greatblessing. He showed exemplary faith in obeying the voice ofGod.

If Abraham had worked for and earned his place as the father ofJudaism through his own efforts, then he would have had somethingto be proud about, and some claim on God-like qualities through hisown merit. However, Paul explained that what the Hebrew Scripturesactually said was that Abraham believed God, andthat was counted to him as righteousness. Righteousness is ourcharacter, as it was made to be - one that reflects the beauty andcharacter of God, showing love, justice and mercy.

Paul said if someone had worked, then they should expect wagesas owed to them. If they had not worked, wages would be undeservedgift. Did this mean that salvation was an undeserved gift for thenon-Jew, but wages for the Jew who had earned it by their ownmerit?

The crux of the answer for Paul hinged on whether Abraham hadearned the gift of righteousness before or after he wascircumcised. To be circumcised was a mark of the Jewish covenantand of Abraham's special relationship with God. It became arequirement of covenant law for all Jewish males, and a core markof their identity as a people of God. Paul said that Abraham hadbeen reckoned to be righteous before he wascircumcised and therefore the circumcision had been a sign that hehad been made righteous and was not his means of achieving it.

In this way Abraham was the ancestor of all who were circumcisedand all who were not, both Jew and Gentile. Those who were notcircumcised could follow their ancestor Abraham as the example of aman of model faith.

To Ponder

• Who do you look back to in your extended family or churchfamily as an ancestor modelling faith and how have they influencedyou?

• Describe some examples of ways you show the quality of having'faith' in your relationships.

• How would you explain to an entirely non-religious person whatit means to you to have faith in Jesus?