What Was The Point Of The Law?
Romans 2:25-29
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 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.
The Lord chose Abraham (and then Abraham’s family, Israel) to be His representatives to the nations, to teach the nations how to live well and to bring the nations back to the Lord. The Lord made a covenant with Israel, and the sign of that covenant was circumcision—a physical mark in the flesh. Circumcision was the sign that Israel was set apart through a covenant promise.
Paul here addresses an imaginary Jewish interlocutor who believes that circumcision alone is what matters to make people righteous. Paul says that, yes, circumcision is a sign of God’s promise, but that what matters is what circumcision signified, not merely the physical mark in the flesh. That is, it is through the keeping of the Law that Israel shows its covenant status—which was what circumcision was meant to signify—not just circumcision alone. So, Paul points out that just being Jewish doesn’t count for anything—that circumcision, the sign of the covenant and of one’s membership in Israel—is a worthless sign if you aren’t actually obedient. What matters is obedience. So, someone who is uncircumcised —i.e., a Gentile—but obedient is actually righteous, whereas someone who is circumcised by disobedient is unrighteous.
26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. [2:26-29]
In other words, just saying, “Well, I’m an Israelite, so I can’t be condemned for my sins” won’t work.
How does this dynamic play out today?
Many Christians have believed the lie that they can claim to be Christians but live completely disobedient lives. Paul is here offering a warning to us that what matters is not what we say but what we do. This, by the way, is exactly the same point that Jesus makes in Matthew’s Gospel about Judgment Day:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” [Matthew 25:21-46]
Where are you living in disobedience today?