August 15

Romans 4:13
“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith”— Romans 4:1313For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13).
NOT only Israel, but many other nations, sprang from this man (Gen. 17:4, 54As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. (Genesis 17:4‑5)) whose understanding of God marked him out as unique in his day and, through all the centuries since, as the outstanding witness to the truth revealed to him, and to the importance of faith in God’s testimony.
We need to remember that it was while he was still a Gentile after the flesh that enlightenment came to him. It was not until he had received and believed the promise that he and his household were circumcised (Gen. 17:10-1410This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. (Genesis 17:10‑14)) and so separated unto God. This was the sign of the covenant already made to him, and it marks the beginning of the Hebrew people. Paul emphasizes this in discussing the great truth of the imputation of righteousness to all who believe (Rom. 4:9-129Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Romans 4:9‑12)). The grace extended to Abram as a Gentile and confirmed to him later as a separated man, is the same grace that flows out to all men, through Him who is the promised Seed, the Son of Abraham (Matt. 1:11The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1)). Dispensations have changed, but God’s promise of salvation by grace abides through all ages.
“The Son—He left God’s throne above
(So free, so infinite His grace!),
Emptied Himself and then in Love
Bled for our lost our ruined race:
‘Tis mercy, all beyond our thought,
That us to God in Jesus brought.
No condemnation now we dread,
Jesus is ours, prepared our place.
Our life in Him, our hidden Head,
Himself our righteousness thro’ graces
Bold we approach the heavenly throne,
Heirs of the crown He for us won.”
—C. Wesley.