Only a Circumcised Heart Matters to God

In Romans chapter 2, Paul started with the sinful nature with which the Gentiles are living but quickly becomes laser focused from verses 2:17-3:8 on the Jewish community in Rome. Paul states as Gentiles we are sinners and through our belief in Jesus Christ our salvation is secured coupled with the fact that we must be doers of God's word. Paul also states that as a Jewish person, if you are going to boast about how circumcision will bring salvation through the law then you should live and die by the law. There is very little difference from Paul's message to the Jewish people and the Gentiles as we will see in the rest of the book of Romans. His message is about the gospel of Jesus Christ and through Him and only Him we are saved. Paul understands it is all about your heart and how you approach your relationship with Christ. Is it superficial being stuck in the law or calling yourself a Christian without being a doer of God's word? In either case Paul tells us it is about your heart. Effectively, if you call yourself a Gentile or a Jew and boast knowing and living for God, knowing His will, then where is your heart?

Circumcision eight days after birth is a commandment from God that has been followed from the beginning of the Abraham covenant (Genesis 17:12). Circumcision was performed on every male child in every household whether you were naturally born into the household or bought as a slave. Circumcision in the Jewish community is considered to be the outward indicator that you are following God's law and you are very special in God's eyes.

When you are boasting of how important God's laws are to you as a moral standard of living, then you should most definitely keep the law. We should note that going through the motions as a Jew and getting circumcised will not save you just as going through the motions of Christianity will not save you nor does it make you a Christian. Do not be a hypocrite which creates confusion for those inside and outside the community of God. This behavior goes to the character of the people and the effect of that character as a nation (Isa. 52:5; Ezekiel 36:22, 23). We are reminded in the bible that our actions will condemn us (Matthew 12:41-42).

A circumcision of the heart (conversion of your heart) is not physical, it is spiritual! Real circumcision comes through the grace and mercy of God through the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ no matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile. The fact is that we all need to have that relationship with Jesus Christ to find heaven for eternity.

As we develop our relationship with Christ we should understand that there will be a physical transformation that occurs (e.g. we no longer go to bars or places where we would compromise our relationship with Christ) coupled with the way we dress (wearing provocative clothing) putting out the wrong message and compromising our morals.

It also includes becoming more aware our relationship with Christ spiritually. We should always be reminded that when we have a relationship with Jesus, He is always with us wherever we go. He is always by our side walking with us, talking with us, protecting and guiding us. If we frame our relationship in that context, then we will almost always represent our walk with Christ appropriately. Then we can truly say that we have been spiritually transformed into the likeness of Christ. The beauty of the transformation is that it never stops. We do not hit a level of spiritual maturity where God says okay, that's enough, you passed the course and have graduated. Our graduation comes when we are in our glory state in the kingdom of heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ. Until then our walk/run with Christ will continue for the rest of our days and we should enjoy every minute of it with our Lord Jesus Christ.

My prayer is that we will always check our hearts and our motives when we are walking with Christ. That we would always represent Christ as He deserves to be represented, with love and respect. I pray that our relationship with Christ far extends beyond the superficial behaviors that seem appropriate as the world's standards have defined them. I pray that we love Jesus with all of our mind, soul, heart and strength for the rest of our days. In Jesus Mighty Name Amen! Amen!