In Galatians 3:1-5, Paul urges his friends to keep running the race they began when he shared with them the truth of the gospel. That meant that they would understand that they were justified by faith, not by circumcision. To demonstrate his point in verses 1-5, Paul introduces Abraham, the father of God's people, in verse 6. Abraham is significant for a number of reasons, not least because he was the first man that God commanded to be circumcised (Gen. 17). Paul holds Abraham as an example we can follow; one we can identify with and through whom we can receive the same blessings.