Week 6 - Tuesday

Religious Activity

For indeed circumcision is of value, if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. If therefore the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And will not he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? (Romans 2:25-27)

The Jews mistakenly believed that they were guaranteed a place in God's kingdom, simply because they were Abraham's descendents (Matt. 3:7-9). They also thought that their religious sacrifices and ceremonies (one of which was circumcision) made them acceptable to God. Jewish tradition said that no circumcised Jewish man would ever enter hell. Because of these misconceptions, Paul needed to deal with the issue of circumcision. In circumcision the outer skin that covers the tip of the male reproductive organ is cut away. There is nothing wrong with circumcision itself, in fact it has some sanitary benefit. It was also done by the Jews as an act of obedience to God. It was God Himself who had commanded the Jews to circumcise all their males. This was to be done when they were eight days old. This was meant to be a sign of their special relationship to God as His chosen people. God wanted the Jews to be circumcized to distinguish them from the pagan, unbelieving nations around them. Man has a sinful nature which is passed on from one generation to the next. The cutting away of the outer skin of the male reproductive organ, also served as a symbolic reminder of their need to be cleansed from their sin.

Paul knew the Jews would accuse him of teaching that circumcision had no value at all. Paul counters their objection by stating that indeed circumcision is of value, but only if they obeyed God's Law. Circumcision was of value to a Jew, as an act of obedience to God and as a sign of their special relationship to Him. However it did nothing to keep anyone from going to hell. In fact it made them more accountable for keeping God's Law. Because they were God's chosen people and had been given additional revelation by God, He expected more of them than He did of the Gentiles. Paul tells the Jews that an uncircumcised man (meaning a Gentile) who obeyed God's Law, would stand in judgment over a circumcised Jew who did not keep God's Law. God wanted the Jews to be circumcised and He had instituted their religious ceremonies and sacrifices, but His main concern was that they would obey Him. What really pleases God is not just religious activity but a life lived in obedience to Him. Is the pattern of your life one of obedience to God? Or is your Christianity nothing more than religious activity? Confess any known sins to the Lord today and ask Him to help you to be more obedient, in every area of your life.

Readings for today: Gen. 17:9-12; Amos 3:1-2; Jer. 9:25-26; 1 Sam. 15:22; 1 Cor. 7:19