"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Romans 2:29)
Further to this point, Paul herein differentiates between the Gentiles and the Jews (albeit, we later understand that there is no difference) but he does so to show us that when we rest in the law, we miss the glorious gospel which shines in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. We miss the liberty wherein Jesus has set us free.
Why is this critical? Because regardless of how hard we try to keep the law, we can't. Plus, we are trying to get our salvation through works, and when we do, we miss the fact that Jesus paid the price on the cross for our sins once and for all. He shed His precious holy blood so that we might have abundant life in Him.
But there is more. The law as we know it -- physical, written, tablets of stone is still required by those who don't believe. Why? Because until unbelievers (uncircumcision) come to the fullness of the knowledge of Jesus Christ -- the glorious good news gospel -- they still need to be governed by written laws. However, for those of us who have asked Jesus to be both Lord and Christ, the law is now written in our hearts.
There is a scriptural example which may make this point clearer -- from Galatians 2. Herein Peter comes to Antioch. At the time, Peter had been eating with the Gentiles but when the Jews (circumcision) came, Peter would depart and eat with them. When apostle Paul witnesses this, he sees that they were carried away with their dissimulation. [From the KJV Dictionary, dissimulation means the act of dissembling; a hiding under a false appearance; a feigning; false pretension; hypocrisy. Dissimulation may be simply concealment of the opinions, sentiments or purpose; but it includes also the assuming of a false or counterfeit appearance which conceals the real opinions or purpose.]
"But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, lives after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compel thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.: (Galatians 2:14-21)
To the saints in Rome, apostle Paul elaborates on the differences between the Jews and Gentiles -- that when the Gentiles which do not have the law show the works of the law written in their hearts and their conscience also bearing witness, this should be an example to those under the law. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly but he is a Jew which is one inwardly -- through circumcision of the heart, in the Spirit and not in the letter of the law. Paul does not stop there ...
"... but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and make thy boast of God, and knows His will, and approves the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teaches another, teaches thou not thyself? thou that preaches a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that say a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhor idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? thou that makes thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonours thou God?
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. "For circumcision verily profits, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision." Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and make thy boast of God, and knows His will, and approves the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teaches another, teaches thou not thyself? thou that preaches a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that say a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhor idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? thou that makes thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonours thou God?
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. "For circumcision verily profits, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision." Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Romans 2:10-29)
More to come. Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment