6. David says the same thing about those who are blessed: God approves of people without their earning it. David said,
7. “Blessed are those whose disobedience is forgivenand whose sins are pardoned.
8. Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer considers sinful.”
9. Are only the circumcised people blessed, or are uncircumcised people blessed as well? We say, “Abraham’s faith was regarded as the basis of God’s approval.”
10. How was his faith regarded as the basis of God’s approval? Was he circumcised or was he uncircumcised at that time? He had not been circumcised.
11. Abraham’s faith was the basis of his approval by God while he was still uncircumcised. The mark of circumcision is the seal of that approval. Therefore, he is the father of every believer who is not circumcised, and their faith, too, is regarded as the basis of their approval by God.