14
`God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is
worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He
giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all
nations of men ... that they should seek the Lord ... now commandeth all
men every where to repent' (Acts 17:24-30).
Another
argument
is
brought
forward
in
Romans
4:9-10 :
`Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only? ... How was it
then reckoned? When he (Abraham) was in circumcision, or in
uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision'.
We can only dimly realise the blow that this question and its
answer must have been to Jewish prejudice and exclusiveness.
The Jews had boasted with pride that Abraham was their father,
but had forgotten that Abraham was not an Israelite, but a
Gentile from Ur of the Chaldees. Abraham was already justified
by faith and the heir of the promises, before the rite of
circumcision was instituted, and before Isaac was born. He was
therefore :
`... the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that
righteousness might be imputed unto them also: and 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 ... Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written,
I have made thee a father of many nations)' (Rom. 4:11-17).
With this passage should be compared the argument of
Galatians 3:
`The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen
(nations) through faith, preached before the gospel unto