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Here the apostle declares the reason why, and the end for which Abraham was circumcised, seeing he was justified by faith in the promised Messiah, long before circumcision, as a sign and seal of the covenant made with him, and to his seed, Genesis 17. and as an obligation that the righteousness of faith was the true way for a sinner to become righteous; which righteousness Abraham had obtained whilst he was uncircumcised, that so he might be the father in a spiritual sense, of all believers, both Jews and Gentiles, who imitated him in his faith, and in the holiness and obedience of his life.
Note here, 1. The person instituting the sacrament of circumcision: God, and not Abraham: He received circumcision: that is, by the appointment of God he was circumcised. Sacraments must be of divine institution, not of human invention. The church can make no sacraments; her duty is, with care and caution to administer them.
There is a fourfold word requisite to a sacrament. A word of institution; a word of command; a word of promise; a word of blessing. The elements are cyphers: 'Tis the institution makes them figures. Divine institutionis as necessary to a sacrament, as the royal inscription is to current money.
Note, 2. The nature of sacrments in general, and of circumcision in particular. They are signs and seals; He received the sign of circumcision: a seal of the righteousness by faith.
The circumcision, 1. Was a sign and token of the covenant which God made with Abraham and the Jews. It was a commemorative sign of God's covenant with Abraham: A representative sign of Abraham's faith and obedience towards God: A demonstrative sign of original sin, and the depravity of human nture: A discriminating and distinguishing sign of the true church and people of God from all the rest of the world: An initiating sign, by which all stangers, that were received into the commonwealth of Israel, were admitted into the Jewish church: And lastly, It was a prefigurative sign of baptism, which, in the Christian church, was to succeed in the room of circumcision.
2. Circumcision was not a sign only, but a seal also. A seal of the righteousness by faith; it was a seal, both on God's part, and on Abraham's also. A seal on God's part, to confirm all the promises made to Abraham and his seed.
3. A seal on his and their parts, to bind them to renounce the service of all other gods, and to oblige them to the observation of the whole law.
Note lastly, The character and description here given of true believers; they are such as walk in the steps of faithful Abraham. They have not only Abraham to their father, but they walk in the footsteps of their father's faith.
As Abraham readily obeyed the call of God, so do they:
As Abraham left his idolatrous country and kindred, and though he had opportunity of returning, yet never returned more; so do the faithful sons and daughters of Abraham leave all known sins, and no temptations can prevail with them to return to the delightful practice of them.
Did Abraham break through all impediments, difficulties, and discouragements whatsoever?
So do and will all those that tread in the faith of their father Abraham, surmount all difficulties, bid defiance to all dangers, that they may yield a ready, cheerful, and persevering obedience to the commands of the God of Abraham: Few of the children of Abraham's flesh, but all the children of his faith, do thus walk in the steps of their renowned father.