Romans 4 "How Are We Made Righteous? Faith Credits Our Spiritual Account!:

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Abraham Justified by Faith

Paul now turns to the central figure in Jewish history (showing at this point he is writing to the Jews), Abraham. Abraham was called, "the father of many nations".  His faith in God's promises is the "gold standard" in the bible. Most importantly Paul says in verse 3, 

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

In the last chapter Paul explained from the Psalms, "There is none righteous not even one." So then how can one become righteous before God if not by works? When I get a credit on my credit card statement something I owe is paid back but not by me. For instance if I owe four hundred dollars and am credited two hundred dollars, now I only owe two hundred dollars. Someone outside of me credited my account. 

In the same way I could never justify or settle my account with God due the sin I have committed. So I needed a credit to my spiritual account. I could not earn it, so I needed to rely on the righteousness of God, which was obtained through faith in Jesus and His righteousness. Paul distinguishes between faith which comes by trusting in God's promises, and trying to obey the Law, which is by sheer human effort. 

"It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless."

Before the Law was given through Moses, God made his covenant with Abraham, which Abraham believed by faith. God added the Law after the promise. The Law was given to Moses by God in order to set the Jews apart from the Gentiles. By obeying the Law, especially the Ten Commandments, they would show the Gentiles the living God. 

Although circumcision also was a sign of the covenant and a physical sign setting the Jewish men apart from the Gentiles, it had no power to change a human heart. Trusting in God's promises was all about our relationship with God. We teaching in our Lutheran Confirmation classes (Junior High) that faith is "Trusting in God's promises." I.e Trusting that God will do what he said he would do. Ultimately this promise was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus the Messiah. 

Because faith came before the law requiring circumcision, faith could also be given to the Gentiles. Because being justified by faith is based on trusting in a promise it is for all people. 

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

As Paul said in Galatians 5:6, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love."

There are some similarities between circumcision and infant baptism. In the Jewish faith babies were circumcised at 8 days old. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and the child. The child had not exercised any faith yet, but the family circumcised the child in faith and in obedience to God's command.  

As Christian parents bring their children to the baptismal font to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, being obedient to the Great Commission which says, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all that I have commended them."

So making disciples is baptizing a child/adult as the sign of the covenant of grace that has been poured out through the water, and then teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded.  Though baptism doesn't save us, God commands it. Faith alone in Jesus saves us, and baptism with water is a symbol of the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit.

Many denominations have differed and split over this issues but it is clear from Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved."