His cast is off and the wood is delivered! ** Outward signs mean nothing

Romans 2: 25 - 29

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.

These passages may seem a little strange and even irrelevant to us today… 

To us, circumcision is something that the parents of a newly born baby boy decide about we don’t usually talk about.

However, to understand what Paul is saying we need to understand what a critical issue this was to the Jews who were the first Christians. 

The Jews had been born and raised in the belief that a man could not be blessed before God unless he was circumcised…

it was the defining mark of obedience to God.

Consequently, the Gentile men’s lack of circumcision, was a huge obstacle to unifying the Jewish and Gentile Christians.

 

Paul is speaking to the Jews about hypocrisy.

He is trying to explain that a person does not become righteous before God by his outward appearance.

The mark of circumcision is outward, where it can be seen by men.

What matters to God is what is done within… …in one’s heart and spirit.

We must never skip over these important verses by thinking this is not relevant for us today…

Because the only difference is that we have replaced circumcision with the right words and speech… Or with Christian jewelry, like the cross…

Or by attending church…

And these things are fine… in fact they can help build Christian community, because they can present our beliefs publicly to the world…

However, these are only outward signs.

But when it comes to actual belief and salvation… they mean nothing.

They are only external signs that can be seen by men…

Only God can see what has been done within… in the heart and spirit of a man.

We must always be careful that our outward self truly reflects what is going on within us.

We must be made right with God because we have put our trust in Jesus Christ and desire to obey Him… 

The true believer seeks the praise of God and seeks to obey God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Not by outward signs.

And today’s scripture is telling us that an external practice does not make a person right with God. 

But those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ are part of the kingdom of God.

The inward reality of this faith is the true mark of a child of God!

Have a blessed day and enjoy the video... 😊