Romans 4: 9-15

"(9) Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righeousness. (10) Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! (11) And he received the sign of the 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. (12) And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (13) It was not through law that Abraham and his offfspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but thorugh the righeousness that comes by faith. (14) For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, (15) because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression."

Paul continues chapter 4 by continuing to discuss Abraham. Abraham was the hero of ancient Jews and the founder of the Jewish race/religion. It was through him that God made a covenant for him to be the father of a great nation. Paul points out, though, that Abraham was made right with God through his faith, not the outward symbol of circumcision. I think sometimes as Christians we put too much emphasis on outward symbols of faith. But God doesn't care about the outward symbol as much as he cares about the inner faith. We can be baptised before an entire church, but if our heart isn't change and faith isn't there, then it's meaningless. In fact Abraham hadn't even conducted the outward symbol of circumcision before God blessed him because of his faith. If the outward symbol was more important, then faith would have no meaning and that's not what God is all about. The emphasis is on faith.