The question very naturally arises, Why was the outward sign of circumcision given to Abraham, if he already had everything that it implied? Since circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit, and is nothing but the possession of righteousness by faith, and Abraham had that before he received the sign of circumcision, why was the sign given? EVCO 92.1
It is a reasonable question, and happily may easily be answered. The reader will first notice, however, that that which Abraham received is in Romans 4. II called “the sign of circumcision.” The real circumcision he already had. In harmony with this is the statement that that which was in the flesh, made by hands, was only “called circumcision.” 1Ephesians 2:11. It was not circumcision in fact. EVCO 92.2