2021-02-24 Romans 2

Romans 2:25–29 ESV

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.

I. What makes you apart of God’s people?

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

A. Why does a passage on circumcision matter to us?

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

Illus: At first when you read this passage the question must come of why it even matters.

Aren’t the issues of the first century church regarding Jewish circumcision a bit archaic?

I think there is a deeper principle here beyond just the question of circumcision.

This passage is all about identity. It seeks define who the people of God are. It seeks to define what makes you apart of God’s family, kingdom, people.

When we look at the early church it is important to understand a little history.

When Christianity arose Christians did not see themselves as starting a new religion but instead embracing the fulfillment of Judaism. They saw themselves as the Jesus is the messiah sect of the people of Israel.

That is why so much conflict grew into the early church from questions of how Jewish Jesus followers needed to be in order to be apart of the community of faith.

It was truly radical when Paul and the early apostles said that you did not need to convert to Judaism to become a Christ follower.

Why does thi passage matter to us? The answer is that Paul shows what God’s intent was from the beginning in heart transformation. The same that it is today.

Being apart of God’s family is not about how you dress the outside. It is all about who owns your heart and transformation.

This is something we must always fight for, stripping away the false forms of our faith and coming back to our true identity as people who love God b faith with all of our hearts .

Philippians 3:2–4 ESV

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:

Philippians 3:7–9 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

B. If you claim the name of God and live contrary to God, you probably don’t belong to God.

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

Illus: Throughout biblical times there were always people who claimed the name of God yet did not know God. There were people who claimed the name of God yet did not live in that way.

I am grappling more and more with the jealousy God has for his name. The painstaking efforts God works through to say, just because you use my name does not mean you belong to me.

Scripture says that there will be a moment when people will come to God claiming his name, and God will send them away saying “depart from me I never knew you.”

People are people just as in biblical times, so it is in our time. There are many who use the name Christian that do not belong to Christ.

I want to be clear, doing good works, living by the commands of Scripture do not save you, BUT living by the commands of Scripture is the proof you are saved.

Your life should bear the fruit of God’s work in you.

When you claim the name of Christ and live in such a way that is opposed to him you probably don’t really belong to him. 

There is nothing God speaks to more directly than those who claim the name of God yet live in a way that shows no transformation.

Matthew 23:25–28 ESV

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

II. Your life testifies to your identity.

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.

A. Transformation is the indicator of your identity.

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.

Illus: Just as being born to a Jewish family or being circumcised did not make you apart of the people of God, neither does calling yourself a Christian and going through the motions make you apart of God’s family.

Growing up going through all the baptist classes I was taught that baptism was an outward sign of an inward reality.

This is exactly what God intended regarding circumcision. He wanted it to be an outward sight of an inward reality.

God desired a people who’s hearts were set apart to him. God continues to have a people who’s hearts are set apart for him.

The call of the OT is the same as the NT be holy as God is holy. Love the lord your God with all of your heart mind soul and strength.

As believers who have seen the finished work of Christ. we know that we are incapable of loving God and being holy in our own strength. It is only through the forgiveness of Christ and the transformation of God’s Spirit.

God’s transformation is the proof of your salvation.

When you begin to live more and more for God every day you prove that God is transforming your heart and show that you are his child.

1 Corinthians 7:19 ESV

19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

Galatians 6:13–15 ESV

13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

B. You can have all the background and experiences of a believer and not be a child of God.

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.

Illus: It is possible to grow up in church, know all the church ways, and still be lost as can be. In fact this is one of the HUGE questions that drives me is how to help folks see that they have embraced cultural Christianity and not Christ.

I grew up in the church. I had my tight group of friends in the church. I mean we all wore our wwjd bracelets, went to camp, were there every time the doors were open. It was trendy for us to wear our church shirts at school. We were the youth group kids.

When we all went to college something happened. Of my friend who were super active in the church as teenagers, very few of us are left.

When I look back and ask why did my relationship with Jesus grow, and all my friends fall away the only big thing that I can see is that I had a distinct moment where I encountered Christ. Where he changed me. It had little to do with my church, little to do with my parents. Both laid the foundation, but ultimately there was a moment where I was drawn into a deep and real relationship with God.

Hear me out, You can go to church, know all the traditions and language we use, hang out with church people and still be a stranger to God.

That is who the Jews were. They may have used the name of God, but very few drew near to him. That is why Paul articulates this in romans 9:

Romans 9:6–8 ESV

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

III. Identity is found in who owns your heart.

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.

A. Real circumcision is of the heart and by the Spirit.

Illus: The point of our passage tonight is that what makes you apart of God’s kingdom, family, and people is heart transformation.

Jews said that circumcision made you apart of God’s people, God said it was the circumcision of the heart.

There are any number of things that we look to: church membership, baptism, a prayer... but ultimately it is a heart that is transformed by God’s spirit that makes you God’s child.

And if your heart is transformed, then your life will be transformed. Your heart will be seen by your actions.

A spirit controlled heart will produce spirit controlled actions.

Colossians 2:9–14 ESV

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.