Romans 4:9-12 Comes this blessedness then on the circumcision only, or on the uncircumcision also?… This idea was quite a familiar one to St. Paul. In Galatians he expands and illustrates it still more fully. It represents Abraham — I. AS A GRAND TYPE OR EXAMPLE OF BELIEVERS (cf. Genesis 4:20, 21). II. AS THE FIRST OF THE SAINTS. No doubt Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Shem were saved by faith, but still it was not until the time of Abraham that one was chosen in whom this great truth should be clearly and conspicuously exemplified. III. AS THE FEDERAL HEAD of the faithful. All believers are accounted as his seed, so that the promises made to him are also made to them, and the covenant entered into with him is also the same as that entered into with them. We have now another head, that is, Christ, and in Him the promises of God assume a far higher and more spiritual aspect than they did in regard to Abraham; but still the headship of Abraham is not destroyed, but absorbed. So far as God's covenant with him extended, it is still firm and binding, and it belongs to all his seed, even all believers. It was a germ, out of which has sprung the higher covenant of God in Christ; but still we shall find in it much which may excite our interest, provoke our gratitude and determine our conduct. (T. G. Horton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. |
    |