Passage
For in one case circumcision helps you, if you should carry
out the Law. One the other hand, if you
are a violator of the Law your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. Therefore if an uncircumcised person should
keep the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be considered as
circumcision? Even the one who is
uncircumcised by nature while fulfilling the Law will judge you, the violators
of the Law through what has been written and through circumcision. For one is not a Jew outwardly nor is
circumcision outwardly in the flesh.
Rather, one is a Jew inwardly and circumcision of the heart is in the
spirit not in the letter. The praise of
whom is not out of mankind but out of God.
Thoughts for Today
First Thought:
Paul makes an interesting point in the majority of this
section. Essentially, Paul does say that
if a person follows God’s Law perfectly, then their carrying out the Law is to
their credit. However, Paul also says
that should a person violates God’s Law then their prior obedience becomes as
disobedience. You might wonder how this
is fair. Think of it in general classifications
of “saint” and “sinner.” If a person
never sins, they are perfect and a saint.
However, even one sin is enough to classify a person as a sinner. This is essentially what Paul is saying. Even one violation of the Law is enough to
classify a person as a violator of the Law.
Of course, we know that all people violate God’s Law. Thus, we are all violators – even Paul! Keeping the Law cannot be the most important
part of faith because none of us can keep it perfectly. Our salvation cannot come from the things we
do – whether it be circumcision (as in the case Paul writes) or keeping the
food purity laws or anything else.
If our salvation isn’t from our obedience to the Law, from
where does our salvation come? Is there
any freedom that comes from the idea that our salvation does not come from the
Law? Why should we be obedient to God if
not so that we can be saved?
Second Thought:
Because of this, Paul says that Jewishness and even
circumcision is not an outward expression.
Being obedient to God is a condition of the heart, not a condition of
practice. It is entirely possible for us
to have a righteous façade covering over a most unrighteous heart. This is not pleasing to God. God would rather have us circumcise our
hearts and become humbled in submission to Him in our being. Paul says here that circumcision is a
spiritual matter, not a legal matter.
Is your heart circumcised to God? Are you listening to Him? Are you obedient to Him? Have you ever been in a place where you had a
façade of faith but weren’t truly submitting to God? How do moments like those feel?
Third Thought:
Finally, Paul tells us that a person who is circumcised in
spirit receives praise not from mankind but instead from God. This is such a subtle but dramatic
point. How easy is it to seek praise
from the people around us and get hung up on their words! However, Paul knows that when we are truly
following God that we won’t receive praise from the world around us. Instead, our glory will come from God.
Are you satisfied knowing that praise comes from God to
those who follow Him? Why is it easy to
get hung up on praise from mankind?
Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 3:1-4
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