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1.1 QUESTIONS ABOUT CIRCUMCISION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
2.1 Question #1:
3.1 IF A GENTILE WANTED TO CONVERT TO JUDAISM, HE HAD TO DO THREE THINGS
4.1 Be baptized
4.2 Offer a sacrifice
4.3 Be circumcised.
3.2 CIRCUMCISION SIGNIFICANCE:
Everything to be cut off that interfered in a relationship with God
Illustrated:
4.1 The heart
4.2 The ear
4.3 The lips
Conclusion:
2.2 Question #2 (phrased in two parts)
2.3 Conclusion:
Abraham circumcised 14 years after he was pronounced righteous
| Genesis 15 | Genesis 17 |
| Declared righteous | Circumcised |
| 85 years old | 99 years old |
2.4 GOD’s PURPOSES FOR ABRAHAM’S CIRCUMCISION
2.5 To grant him a sign as a seal
CIRCUMCISION WAS THE SEAL NOT THE MEANS
3.1 CIRCUMCISION IS A SIGN
4.1 The sign is a symbol
4.2 The sign is a pointer
4.3 The other covenant sign:
The Sabbath
3.2 CIRCUMCISION IS A SEAL
4.1 A seal authenticates
4.2 A seal guarantees permanence
3.3 RELIGIOUS RITES ARE SYMBOLS NOT REALITY
4.1 Baptism
4.2 Communion
4.3 Church Membership
2.6 To make him a father of all believers
3.1 BELIEVING UNCIRCUMCISED (GENTILES)
3.2 BELIEVING CIRCUMCISED (JEWS)
3.3 CONCLUSION
9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. (NKJV)
