Trusting in Signs

“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.” – Romans 4:11-12

Paul wasn’t content to leave any room for confusion. He had already made it clear that salvation is by faith apart from works, but now he presses further. Like a skilled teacher anticipating the next question, he addresses the issue of circumcision before it’s even raised. “If circumcision doesn’t save,” someone might ask, “then why did God command it?” Just as he did with the law, Paul explains that circumcision was never the source of righteousness—it was a symbol. It was given not to produce salvation, but to point to it. Paul’s goal is to demolish every argument that tries to add anything to faith as the basis of justification.

In Romans 4, Paul calls circumcision both a sign and a seal. A sign points to something beyond itself—it’s not the destination. Think of a freeway sign that says “Los Angeles.” You don’t climb the sign and declare you’ve arrived. It simply directs you to the real place. In the same way, circumcision pointed to the reality of a heart already changed by faith. It was a seal, confirming what had already taken place in Abraham’s life. When he was circumcised, it didn’t make him righteous—it testified that he already was. “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised” (Romans 4:11, NKJV).

Paul’s point is simple but profound: salvation is not the result of ritual. Ritual is the result of salvation. Circumcision didn’t lead to justification—justification led to circumcision. It was never the cause, only the confirmation. The same is true today. Baptism, communion, church attendance—none of these save us. They are signs and seals of a deeper reality: faith in Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham’s circumcision was a response to faith, our obedience flows from a heart already made new. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (Galatians 5:6, NKJV).

So what does this mean for us? It means we must stop trusting in signs and start walking in faith. Abraham is the pattern for all who believe—Jew and Gentile alike. He was justified before the ritual, and so are we. If you’ve been relying on religious acts to make you right with God, it’s time to shift your trust. Let those acts be expressions of faith, not substitutes for it. Walk in the footsteps of Abraham—not by ceremony, but by conviction. Faith is the saving element. Everything else is just the signpost pointing to it.

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”
—Oswald Chambers