The Promise

What is Paul doing? He is clearing the ground, so that no man can boast before God. He says it is not circumcision, it is not baptism, it is not being born of the line of Abraham or being born in a Christian family, it is not how faithful you are to the Ten Commandments; it is none of these things. It is the work of God in Christ. Then within that context, these things have their place. It is a blessing to be born in a Christian family, it is a blessing to be baptized and to be reared in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as baptism requires, it is a blessing to keep the Law and a requirement. But these things follow after our salvation.