“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, 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” (Rom 4:11-12).
Abraham’s faith was accounted to him for righteousness when he was still uncircumcised. He is the father of all those who believe, whether Gentile (uncircumcised) or Jew (circumcised). Those who believe, of whom he is the father, are those who also walk in the steps of the faith which he had.
Consider just a few aspects of the steps of his walking in faith and how we can walk in his steps of faith.
First, the steps of the faith of Abraham involved departing from something. “Now the Lord had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your kindred, and from your father’s house” (Gen 12:1). “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out…. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Heb 11:8). He left the country that he knew and was used to, saying goodbye to his kindred. If we will please God today, we will walk by the same faith by leaving behind all other masters, gods, and idols. “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Lk 14:33). All of our loves must become secondary to love of Christ.
Second, the steps of the faith of Abraham involved entering into something. God told Abraham to not only leave but to “go to a land that I will show you” (Gen 12:1). The steps of the faith of Abraham included entering the land. And likewise today we can walk in the steps of Abraham by entering into something, and that something is Christ and His kingdom. That is accomplished by being baptized into Christ. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:26-27). When the penitent believer is baptized into Christ for the remission of sins, he enters Christ, he enters the kingdom of Christ: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col 1:13).
Finally, the steps of the faith of Abraham involved becoming something. In God’s commands and promises to Abraham in Genesis 12, He said, “and you shall be a blessing.” Abraham became a blessing in that through his descendants came the Christ (Gal 3:16). When we are baptized into Christ, we become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Becoming a Christian is the beginning of being transformed into becoming a servant of Christ (Mk 9:35), an example (1 Timothy 4:12), and a doer of good works (Ax 10:34-35). Paul describes the kind of vessel we want to become: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim 2:20-21).
Abraham’s steps of faith involved departing from, entering into, and becoming. If we will walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham, we will leave all other masters, enter into Christ, and be a faithful Christian. Have you obeyed the truth, the gospel of Christ, and if so, are you continuing to walk in the steps of faith? – Larry Jones