Abraham
Abram and Sarai get new names to recognize God鈥檚 promises to them. God also requires all the males of Abraham鈥檚 household to be circumcised. The ritual of being circumcised symbolized the special relationship God has with Abraham and his descendants.
Paul refers to Abraham鈥檚 circumcision in Romans 4:11, emphasizing that Abraham was made righteous by his belief in God鈥檚 promises back in chapter 15 before he was circumcised. Paul鈥檚 point was that people have always been made righteous by faith, not by following rules or completing religious rituals. Abraham鈥檚 circumcision was important because God asked Abraham to be circumcised, but it wasn鈥檛 what made him righteous. The same is true for us. It鈥檚 important to obey God, but our obedience isn鈥檛 how we are adopted into God鈥檚 family. It鈥檚 our faith in what God has told us that matters most.