Skip to main content

Romans 2:25-27: For Circumcision Indeed Is Of Value If You Obey The Law


Romans 2:25–27
[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. (ESV)

Let's just rip off the band-aid. Circumcision is a topic that Paul will spend a lot of time on in this letter to the Romans. This act of cutting of the male foreskin was an integral part of the Jewish Law given by God. In this physical act Israelite children were set apart as belonging to God. One of the primary differences between Jew and Gentile was this physical act.

What had the Jews done with this rite of circumcision? They had insisted on the physical act while ignoring the heart of the Law. If you go back and read the history of the Jewish people you find a constant falling away from the Law of God. While they physically separated themselves in circumcision they were worshiping all of the false idols of the Gentiles around them.

Paul is making clear that circumcision only means anything if it is accompanied by obedience. You cannot claim to be a circumcised follower of God while ignoring God's commands. The one who gave the command for circumcision also gave the command for loving your neighbor, for not having other gods, for speaking truthfully with your neighbor, etc.

Paul gives one powerful jab to the Jews who would have been reading this letter. He says the uncircumcised Gentiles who are obeying the law are truly circumcised and will condemn the Jews who claim circumcision only in the physical sense. That statement would have been a scathing indictment to Jews in the 1st Century.

We are not bound any longer by circumcision in a physical sense. Jesus fulfilled the Law. However, consider your claim to know God. Do you obey his words? Does your atheist neighbor live a more godly life than you? Words to ponder.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

James 2:18: I Will Show You My Faith By My Works

James 2:18 [18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV) There are certain things in life that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Double stuff Oreo cookies and milk. Faith and works. James raises the point that someone might argue that faith and works can be separated. "One will say, "You have faith and I have works." Is it ok for works to be separated from faith? James is making the argument that faith and works are not to be separated. James is saying to the one who has faith only, with no works, that he wants them to see his faith by his works. In other words, if you are going to claim to have faith, but have no works, you have no evidence of faith. If I am to believe that a person has genuine faith I can only see that by their works. Faith brings action. There are so many people to claim to have some kind of faith, yet when it comes down to it, their