Romans 2:28-29 - 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Message: The Spirit of God is the author of circumcision in a person's life. It is the Spirit that does the true circumcising.
Time: Romans was probably written during Paul’s third missionary journey from
Corinth to a Jewish/Gentile church in Rome (around 56-57 AD).
What the Lord is Saying:
Chapter Overview
Paul concludes his message in verse 28 and 29. I don't think he could be any clearer in his presentation. After stating his position before Christ at the beginning of chapter 1 and then exposing the sin of the Gentile in the last half of chapter 2, he now turns his attention to the Jew in chapter 2 to first state the way in which the wrath of God will come down on man and then to show the Jew that their preconceived ideas of what God deems acceptable are off-base. God wants obedience and not just some obedience, God wants complete obedience to the Law.
Verse 28-29
Here in these verses Paul concludes his point that true obedience starts from the inside, then goes outside. In verse 28, circumcision is not that which is outward. But to be truly a Jew, verse 29, there must be an inward conversion. And the change that takes place in man is a work of the Spirit, not a work of man, so that God will be praised.
I just noticed how verse 29 is a retelling of Ephesians 2:8-9 which states that, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. It is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." Grace is what changes us and makes us whole. Works or the letter (of the Law) is not what truly changes us. And no one can boast or seek the praise of men by their deeds, but all praise goes to God.
Promise: God wants a circumcised heart in order to be truly circumcised.
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