Click here to watch my video reflection on our text for today, or keep reading for my written reflections: 

Today as one of our readings, we look at Romans 2: 25-29: 

25 Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29 Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

Today in our readings, we see Paul continue something that has been a regular theme throughout the early chapters of Romans.  No matter what you’ve done, or had done to you, everyone is equal in their need for God.  

Our salvation and faith are not an external appearance, our salvation and faith are an inward change that is then shown by the keeping of the intent of the Law.  So many are arguing that they are righteous, no matter what their actions are because they are circumcised.  Paul here is saying what matters is not an outward circumcision, but an inward.  What matters is not an outward appearance, but an inward change. 

If the inward is changed, the outward will follow. But the outward, without the inward, can produce a false religion, one that looks faithful but does not truly have a heart for God. 

Paul wants us to understand that God is more worried about our inward heart, because if He truly has that then the outward action will follow.  In our tradition, baptism is linked to circumcision, it is an outward marking showing that one is part of the covenant community.  By the way, that’s one of the reasons we Methodists baptize infants, just as children were circumcised to show they were part of the community of the Old Covenant, so are children baptized to show they are part of the community of the New Covenant.  

But that baptism does not save you.  It is an outward marking, but it is not your conversion, it is not your sanctification. It a marking given to us by God that we must still claim for ourselves. 

That outward marking must truly be an inward change. That’s what God desires for us. 

And Paull is telling all the believers in Rome, that is what God desires for them. Not the outward trappings of religion, but the inward change. And all persons, no matter who they are need that inward change and can receive that inward change. 

All through God’s grace.  Today, let’s God the room to further change our hearts and through that change live out the intent of His commands.  

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