What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. (Romans 4:1-12 ESV)
Is baptism necessary for someone to be right with God? As Lutherans we say yes. Baptism is necessary for someone to partake in communion. Right, we say all baptized believers are welcome to the table in the ELCA. I remember talking about this statement in seminary. I said it was an exclusive statement and my professor said it was meant as an inclusive. It is exclusive for those who have not been baptized, as they are not welcome according to the statement. But it was meant to say that all baptized believers, not just Lutherans, or ELCA Lutherans. If you were baptized you are welcome. Well it is both exclusive and inclusive. So is baptism necessary for salvation and for participation in communion?
Both communion and baptism are means of grace, places we receive from God. There is nothing man does in them except participate, we do not give anything, we only get. We receive God’s grace through both communion and baptism, so where is it recorded that baptism has to come first? Can’t we receive the grace of God through communion, then come to be baptized? Also who is not to say that we are not already sealed by God before we are baptized?
Abraham was made right then circumcised. So when are we made right?
aSacredRebel 