Romans 2:28-29 (NKJV) 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.
The book of Romans is generally regarded as a theologically-deep book. Much of what is written is extremely thought-provoking and can require a great deal of thought, prayer, studying, cross-referencing and pondering to understand.
It’s not a book that we can simply read through casually and expect to gain much insight from.
The topics themselves aren’t necessarily all deep. But they all allude to much deeper insights in one way or another.
The two verses above are the last two in chapter 2. They basically sum up the whole of chapter 2, in just two sentences.
Although it mentions Judaism specifically, the principle Paul is discussing also applies to our walk as Christians.
We can place the label on ourselves and wear it like a banner. But wearing that banner doesn’t make us a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes us a car or swimming in the water makes us a fish.
Our walk with God is a matter of the heart. It is never about how we appear to others or how we present ourselves. Our words can say one thing, but our actions can say something quite different.
The flag we wave can scream “I am a Christian”, but our actions can say nothing to that effect.
We may paint a pretty picture with our words, but our heart may be storing up poison, in danger of spewing it out onto the first person who crosses us or looks at us the wrong way.
Paul said that circumcision is “of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter”. And so it is with the lordship of Christ in our lives.
It is never about the title, appearances, what others think, how many Bible verses we can quote, or how enthusiastically we wave the banner of Christianity in front of men.
It’s about the heart, plain and simple.
Jeremiah 17:10 (NKJV) 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808
401-315-0902
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