Romans 2:17-29
Be Still: Lord Jesus, as I wait for you to speak to me today, would you fill me with your peace, centre my mind on your Word, and send me out into what you have in store for me.
Read: Romans 2:17-29
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. (vv25-29)
Encounter: In these verses, Paul takes a hammer to the idea that his fellow Jews had a divine right to be the people of God through circumcision. The assumption was that while they said and did the right things and cut off the right things (ouch!), God was bound to keep his covenantal promise to them that he made to Abraham.
The Jewish leaders often appealed to their ethnic heritage as their security. Jesus, however, rebuked them, ‘And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.’ (Matthew 3:9) Paul’s point is this: if you want to stake your claim to God’s promises based on circumcision, you need to keep all the law too. Otherwise, as Paul says, you’re basically a Gentile – i.e., not part of God’s family.
Similarly, we can assume that if we do certain things, we are a Christian. Narrowly defined, that could include going to church, joining in worship, and attending a community/home group. But these good things don't necessarily prove anything. These outward signs don’t necessarily demonstrate or validate the transformative work of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives. Instead, as Paul suggests, it is the inner and hidden work of the Holy Spirit that validates our faith.
Question: How do we know if we are truly followers of Jesus? Answer: Look for the inner evidence in your life. Are you becoming more like him? Are you growing the fruit of the Spirit? It is these that reveal to us whether we are putting on a religious show or genuinely being transformed from the inside-out by God himself.
Apply: Lord, where am I putting on a religious show and where do I need to invite you into untouched areas of my heart and life? (I pause to ask you and wait for your response now.)
Devote: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your grace, mercy and patience for me. Thank you that you are at work in my heart but, please Lord, do more transformative work in me today.