Romans 2:25-29
Paul is not here speaking against physical circumcision, but rather against those in Judah who believed that their circumcision purchased them a "one-way-non-refundable-ticket" to the Kingdom of Heaven, in spite of anything else.
Paul's upholding of the law of circumcision is seen in verse 25 where he says: “Circumcision benefits if you observe the law." He goes on to explain that circumcision does not benefit if you are a law-breaker. What does Paul mean by calling a circumcised man a law-breaker? He is showing that there were some who although circumcised in the flesh, were not true, heart-felt followers of the law.
Paul goes on to write of how someone can be uncircumcised in their flesh (like Cornelius in Acts 10), and be a keeper of many other aspects in the law. This man, though physically uncircumcised at this time in his life, is actually a judgment upon the man who bears the mark of physical circumcision (he obtained as a baby), but whose heart is not with Yahweh. This is why Yahweh stresses both physical circumcision and circumcision of the heart (Ezekiel 44:6-9).
Paul ends by saying that a true Judahite is one who has been circumcised of the heart, like Yeshua. Yeshua was a Judahite who was circumcised in the flesh, but he was also circumcised in his heart. His heart and mind were solely for Father Yahweh, rather than for the praise of man.
Many Jews of that day desired the praises of man rather than the praises of Yahweh. While they were able to boast in the fleshly mark of circumcision, they were not of a clean heart towards the Father.
This does not mean that an uncircumcised man should not obey the law of circumcision at some point in his life. Paul goes on in this epistle to talk about how Abraham was justified by faith before being circumcised (Romans 4:1-10). At the same time, Paul does not fail to make mention of how when the law of circumcision came to Abraham, he obeyed (Romans 4:11). Paul calls circumcision "a seal of the righteousness that Abraham had by faith." When an un-circumcised man receives circumcision, he should consider it as a seal, as loving obedience to his Father.
Circumcision is not done in order to be declared innocent or justified. It is an act of obedience that flows from a heart that desires to be pleasing to the Almighty.
So... basic obedience to the law of circumcision as given in Genesis 17 is not being discussed here in Romans. Paul is rather discussing a particular view and motive for circumcision that existed in the first century among some in the Jewish faith.
An analogy may help: many people attend church every week, yet their lifestyle is not one of devotion to the Lord. Attending church benefits, if you live for Christ. But if you do not live for him, your attendance is counted as un-attendance. An outward work doesn’t prove that you are in a right relationship with Christ. You must be devoted from
the heart. In saying this, I am not diminishing going to a church or congregation, only highlighting that many today think that just because they walk into a building once a week, they are saved.
Paul's upholding of the law of circumcision is seen in verse 25 where he says: “Circumcision benefits if you observe the law." He goes on to explain that circumcision does not benefit if you are a law-breaker. What does Paul mean by calling a circumcised man a law-breaker? He is showing that there were some who although circumcised in the flesh, were not true, heart-felt followers of the law.
Paul goes on to write of how someone can be uncircumcised in their flesh (like Cornelius in Acts 10), and be a keeper of many other aspects in the law. This man, though physically uncircumcised at this time in his life, is actually a judgment upon the man who bears the mark of physical circumcision (he obtained as a baby), but whose heart is not with Yahweh. This is why Yahweh stresses both physical circumcision and circumcision of the heart (Ezekiel 44:6-9).
Paul ends by saying that a true Judahite is one who has been circumcised of the heart, like Yeshua. Yeshua was a Judahite who was circumcised in the flesh, but he was also circumcised in his heart. His heart and mind were solely for Father Yahweh, rather than for the praise of man.
Many Jews of that day desired the praises of man rather than the praises of Yahweh. While they were able to boast in the fleshly mark of circumcision, they were not of a clean heart towards the Father.
This does not mean that an uncircumcised man should not obey the law of circumcision at some point in his life. Paul goes on in this epistle to talk about how Abraham was justified by faith before being circumcised (Romans 4:1-10). At the same time, Paul does not fail to make mention of how when the law of circumcision came to Abraham, he obeyed (Romans 4:11). Paul calls circumcision "a seal of the righteousness that Abraham had by faith." When an un-circumcised man receives circumcision, he should consider it as a seal, as loving obedience to his Father.
Circumcision is not done in order to be declared innocent or justified. It is an act of obedience that flows from a heart that desires to be pleasing to the Almighty.
So... basic obedience to the law of circumcision as given in Genesis 17 is not being discussed here in Romans. Paul is rather discussing a particular view and motive for circumcision that existed in the first century among some in the Jewish faith.
An analogy may help: many people attend church every week, yet their lifestyle is not one of devotion to the Lord. Attending church benefits, if you live for Christ. But if you do not live for him, your attendance is counted as un-attendance. An outward work doesn’t prove that you are in a right relationship with Christ. You must be devoted from
the heart. In saying this, I am not diminishing going to a church or congregation, only highlighting that many today think that just because they walk into a building once a week, they are saved.