IT'S AN INSIDE THING
Romans 2:28-29
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 of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Paul is not doing away with the idea that those who were born Jewish were no longer Jewish. Paul is talking about a preferred relationship with God.
Those born Jewish had put a lot of stock in their birth heritage and the fact that they were circumcised. Paul is countering with the spiritual truth that circumcision is not what is going to produce anything of value. In fact, if someone who was not circumcised obeyed God, then they were better off than the one who was circumcised and did not obey God.
This is the age-old battle of flesh versus spirit. The outward versus the inward. Even the early church, made up of Jewish-born individuals who converted to Christianity, was pretty hung up on circumcision. Paul was sharing a revealed truth that to God, the circumcision that mattered was what was taking place in the heart. This was a bit disconcerting to the Jews, but it underscored their message of the gospel. The good news was that salvation was available to anyone who simply believed in Jesus and that the real difference was in the spirit, not the flesh.
What has taken place in those of us who believe in Christ is more important than anything that is visible. And that would include the fleshly ordinance of circumcision. What happens in our heart is so much more important than what happens in our flesh. Paul battled with this conflict all of his days as a missionary. He would go into an area and proclaim Christ, and often be followed by Jewish converts who preached keeping the law of Moses and circumcision. The entire book of Galatians deals with this very issue. Paul understood better than anyone that a relationship with the Lord was an inside thing, and what took place in our hearts when we received Jesus was by far the most important thing.
Paul also knew that being Jewish and being circumcised gave the Jewish believers something to boast about. It made them feel special. But what takes place in our hearts is not anything we can visibly point to. So it takes bragging and men's praise out of the equation. Now, our praise comes from God, not man. It seems as if man is constantly looking for ways to be special and to stand apart from other people. What Jesus did in us is not something we can take pride in but rather something we can give praise to God for.
APPLICATION
The good news in all of this is that no one can make those of us in Christ feel inferior. It does not matter if you have a Jewish background. In Christ is what matters. It does not matter to God if you have been circumcised outwardly. What matters to Him is what has taken place inwardly. In Christ, we can stand before God with confidence regardless of our heritage or our past.
Spiritual things are more important, more valuable, and eternal.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You for what has been done in me through Christ. Thank You that I am as accepted as anyone and inferior to no one.