November 10, 2008

Let the Jew Beware

“Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know [His] will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written. For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, [even] with [your] written [code] and circumcision, [are] a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who [is one] outwardly, nor [is] circumcision that which [is] outward in the flesh; 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.” (Romans 2:17-29 NKJV)

Paul now turns his attention from the moralist to the Jew. Here is an aggravated sin. The Jew had more light than any other person did. Therefore, Paul addresses the Jew with greater derision. He bombards them with 500 pounders: do you steal; do you commit adultery; do you rob temples; do you dishonor God through breaking the law? You can almost hear his frustration as you read these words.

The Jew’s circumcision had become unprofitable to him because he was a breaker of the law. Having said that, Paul now begins to throw light on the new covenant by saying, “He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.”

Again, it does not matter what you know, where you go, or who you know. The greatest theologian in the world is no better than the worst reprobate is without faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Therefore, Paul concludes his condemnation of the Jew by pointing out a true follower of Christ is one who has his heart circumcised, one who lives by the Spirit and not by the letter of the law.

How can one make sure his motives? It’s interesting how aware Paul is of motives. Notice at the very end of this indictment he says, “Whose praise is not from men but from God.” The moralist and the legalist have this in common, a need of peer approval.

God does not approve of hypocrisy, therefore both moralist and legalist must seek approval from men. Are you a man pleaser? Is your self worth caught up in the approval of men? If it is, then men and not the Spirit of God control you. Of course the Scriptures are clear, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14 NKJV). Amen.