Circumcision Is Of The Heart | Romans 2:25-29

The Text

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. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 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.

Some Thoughts

Circumcision was an outward sign of God's chosen people. It was to signify that they were different than those around them and with that difference also came the obligation of the law and the rest of the word of God.

Unfortunately the Jews were so wrapped up with their outward signs and rituals that they forgot that they were God's ambassadors to bring his good news to their neighbors.

We see in Acts 10:45 that even the new Jewish Christians were amazed that the Holy Spirit came to the uncircumcised gentiles, because they still had their Jewish heritage and all of it's misconceptions in mind when they thought of their relationship to God.

Circumcision is a matter of having a heart towards the real God of the Bible. Outward circumcision was of no value if it wasn't accompanied by a humble and repentant heart. Paul refers to this outward circumcision as the mutilation in Galatians chapter 5 and in Phillipians chapter 3.