Abraham's Circumcision

We in twenty-first century western society have a hard time understanding why something like circumcision was so important to the issue of salvation. Or why Paul would take so much time dealing with it. While to us it may seem insignificant, to the Jewish people of Paul's day circumcision was of utmost importance. Circumcision admitted a man to membership in the people of God. To the Jew, circumcision was the seal of his place before God. One Jewish writer wrote: "Great is circumcision, for despite all the religious duties which Abraham our father fulfilled, he was not called 'perfect' until he was circumcised." Another Jewish writer wrote: "No Israelite man who is circumcised will go down to [hell]."

This is why Paul has to take time to deal with this issue at length here in Romans 4:9-12. The question that underlies all of this discussion is: "Is faith alone enough for God to save us? Or do we have to be circumcised and become Jewish to be saved?" Paul answers this question by asking and answering two questions in this passage.
I. WHEN WAS ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED? (Verses 9-10)
II. WHY DID GOD GIVE CIRCUMCISION? (Verses 11-12)