23.274 | A Matter Of The Heart, By The Spirit, Not By The Letter| Romans

God’s Word for Today
16 Nov 2023
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God
-Rom 2:25-29 ESV
A MATTER OF THE HEART, BY THE SPIRIT, NOT BY THE LETTER
Another mindset of the Jews is their Abrahamic heritage because of the rite of circumcision. Does being circumcised, in obedience to God's command to Abraham and his descendants ensure that they would be identified as God's people? (Gen 17:9-10) Unfortunately, many of them believed that they would not be judged by God even if they broke His law. The ritual was enough to establish their salvation according to them.
Paul did not dispute the importance of circumcision for the Jews. But, it becomes worthless if they’re breaking and not practicing the law. Those being circumcised are no better than those who are not circumcised. These words should be a shock to religious Jews who always believed they were saved through circumcision and by it belonged to God's chosen people.
As an application, Paul challenged this attitude of anyone who thinks that religious rituals, ceremonies, or other sacraments can overcome the stain of sin. Nobody can be saved a certain rituals and ceremonies.
Paul goes even further to say, “And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people?”[v.26, NLT] This could have infuriated the Jews. His lack of physical circumcision won't prevent him from being regarded by God as one who is circumcised, would it be?
Everything comes down to whether a person keeps God's law or not, whether one is Jewish or Gentile. But, the truth is nobody could keep it.[Rom 3:10,23] Paul even has gone on to say that the Gentile law-keeper will condemn the Jewish law-breaker, even though he has been given the law by God and has been circumcised!
Paul further argues that their Jewishness by race and religion is nothing if they are not obedient to the law. Who then is a real Jew? It's not about being born Jewish or even being physically circumcised. True Jewishness, Paul emphasizes that it is about the state of a person's heart before God. He said, “A Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Today, as we reflect on this truth, we ask. Are we Christians by heart or by religion only.
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Thank you Pastor Sinon for faithfully sharing God's word. God bless po and your family.