Romans 2:25-29

25: For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26: So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27: And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
28: For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29: But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

*** 

The Old Testament Jews knew that being a Jew was an honorable thing because God had chosen them to be His people, hold His presence, and carry His message and revelations. God gave them a detailed written Law to follow through Moses which included circumcision of all males. Circumcision was the physical sign of the covenant between God and the Jews. They also had to follow the Law precisely in order to receive atonement for their sin and to enjoy the blessings God so longed to give them.

In this passage, Paul said that a true Jew is not someone who was outwardly circumcised, but whose circumcision was inward—spiritual—of the heart, by the Spirit of God. He made the analogy that if an uncircumcised person kept the Law, he was more of a Jew than a circumcised Jew who didn’t. Paul was leading into an explanation of attaining righteousness by faith rather than through keeping the Law, which was God’s plan all along. The Law simply showed them that no one could keep it perfectly. All are sinners, Jew and Gentile alike. We all need the grace of God through Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself for our sins.

We must remember to look at the big picture of God’s plan. When our heart is right through faith in Jesus, and we’re seeking to follow His path and example, His forgiving and cleansing grace washes away our sin. We are more apt to keep the Law this way than if we struggle in the flesh to perfect every detail of our life. If you sin, admit it, confess it to God, repent of it, receive His forgiveness and move on.

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