“And he received circumcision as a sign, 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.”
Romans 4:11 (NIV)
God credited righteousness to Abraham by faith before he was circumcised. In Genesis 15:6, Abraham believed God’s promise, and his faith in God was counted as righteousness. It was at least thirteen years later, in Genesis 17, that God gave him the covenant of circumcision. So, circumcision did not earn Abraham’s righteousness; it was a sign and seal of what he already had through faith.
That timing matters. God made Abraham the spiritual father of everyone who believes, Jew and Gentile alike. Righteousness is not reserved for the circumcised or for those who follow Jewish customs. Nor is it earned through our ceremonies or actions in church. What we do for God is the fruit of our faith, not payment for it.
If there is a gap between getting saved and being baptized, a gap between getting saved and joining a church, or a gap between joining a church and beginning to serve, remember Abraham’s waiting. He kept moving forward in faith. Don’t beat yourself up over what you haven’t done yet or wish you’d done sooner. The enemy wants to turn your attention from Jesus’ work to your own performance, but your actions do not earn God’s approval. Through faith, you already have God’s righteousness and a complete relationship with Him.
The practices of our faith today are not payments for God’s approval. Our ceremonies remind us of the righteousness we have already received by faith. Circumcision reminded Israel of what Abraham already possessed; it did not earn it or remind God. So don’t let a delay make you question what Jesus has done or turn your attention to what you can do. Keep your focus on Jesus first and yourself second. Keep trusting God in the gaps, and take the next step with Him.