What Are Your Outward Expressions That You Follow Christ?

Read Romans 4:1-12
Theme: Salvation Available to All by Faith.
Title in NIV: Abraham's justification by faith.

What did Abraham discover? He discovered something bigger than himself- God, and Abraham believed God. His belief was credited to him as righteousness. It was a gift from God. Not because Abraham had a check list of Do's and Don'ts, but because he realized there was a creator bigger than himself, he realized this creator was good and kind and he wanted to be lead by that kind of a master. When Abraham realized these things, then God tested him to see if his faith was genuine in the sacrificing of his son. Not the other way around. Abraham did not have to pass his Do and Don't test, sacrifice his son and then be found righteous. That would not have been a gift but an obligation to 'pay' him what was due for his efforts. Abraham did express his faithfulness to God in that he was circumcised after he was found righteous.



My understanding of verse 11 and 12 comes from studying the Life of Moses a couple or years ago. I learned that circumcision was the physical, outward expression of a man (and his household) who follows the Lord.(Jesus had not come yet.) I have come to understand that circumcision was replaced by baptism: 'circumcision of the heart,' an inward 'taking over of the Holy Spirit'. A person (now all people) shows they have given their heart over to Jesus by being baptized. Baptism is the outward expression of the faith you possess inside.

Abraham was circumcised after he already believed. He "received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them." The way I see it and the way it is stated, is that people who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior are found righteous before the get baptized--the outward expression. When you believe, you receive a seal or righteousness before you are baptized. You receive the seal when you believe, not when you are baptized.

Romans 3:22 "Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." It does not say that righteousness comes from God through baptism or comes the moment you get baptized. Was Jesus righteous before he was baptized by John? Absolutely. Acts 8:12 says that they already believed and were baptized. Acts 2:41 they already accepted the message then were baptized.


Baptism is an expression of our -already accepted- forgiveness. Baptism is an expression of our ---already decided upon-- conversion. Baptism is a sign that we have already repented. We do not receive forgiveness the moment we are baptized. That could be minutes, days, or weeks from our decision. We receive it the moment we believe.

Point to Ponder: Do you think someone will be saved if they have faith in Jesus Christ, but never gets baptized? (Thank God we do not have to judge this.God judges the heart.)

What if the person has not been obedient by expressing his belief through baptism.If baptism is an outward expression of obedience then what if someone does not preform other outward expressions of obedience? What if we do not preform such acts as loving our neighbor, forgiving someone who hurt us, giving to the man with a sign on the street corner, serving our enemies, not judging, etc. All these acts are outward expressions that we follow Jesus.

Thank God for GRACE! If He can give me grace for not expressing my belief in Him through outward acts of kindness, forgiveness and acceptance, than he can forgive the believer for not expressing the outward act baptism. God judges the heart of the matter.