Romans 4:6

Romans 4:6 says, Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Verse seven adds, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  Paul once again refers to the scripture and one of the great men of the Jews, King David.  Paul reminded them that David had taught that righteousness was given to them by God without any works on their part. The Hebrews, or Jews, were chosen not because of their power and greatest to be God's people, but because of their weakness and insignificance in the eyes of the world.  When they did great things, it was not that they could be glorified, but so that God would be.  We need to understand that concept today.  We are not followers of Christ because of our own goodness and power, but we are His followers because of our own inabilities.  We are weak and insignificant and incapable of saving ourselves.  Verse eight continues, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.  If we want something to be thankful for everyday, we need only to look to this truth.  As followers of Christ, we are blessed because God does not hold us accountable for our sins.  The sins are not done away with, but the penalty for them is.  Sin will always be sin, but by the salvation of Christ, those sins are put behind God, to be looked on no more.  Verse nine states, Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.  Paul again refers to Abraham, the father of the Jewish faith, asking if he was blessed by circumcision or by faith. Paul answered that it was by faith.  We today are not blessed by any earthly ritual, but by faith in Christ alone. We cannot justify ourselves by any religious ritual. Verse ten adds, How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.  Abraham was found faithful by God, not by His actions, but by his faith in God long before circumcision became a sign for the Hebrew nation.  Through faith today we are justified by God before any sign, such as baptism, has any meaning.  Verse eleven continues, And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:  Paul said to them and to us that circumcision was a sign of the righteousness of faith, that Abraham through his faith might be the father, not of all who were circumcised, but of all who believe.  We all are not called to be brothers and sisters of all who follow certain rituals, but of all who believe in Christ.  Verse twelve concludes, 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.  Here Paul was stating the good news for all who are not Jewish.  God chose to work through Abraham to call all people to Him, and not just the Hebrews.  God works through followers of Christ the same way today, not to just call certain people to Him, but to call all people.