A personal choice

If you obey the Law, your circumcision is of value; but if you disobey the Law, you might as well never have been circumcised. If the Gentile, who is not circumcised, obeys the commands of the Law, will God not regard him as though he were circumcised? And so you Jews will be condemned by the Gentiles because you break the Law, even though you have written it down and are circumcised; but they obey the Law, even though they are not physically circumcised.
(verses 25-27)

Read Romans 2:25 – 3:8

There was a recent episode on a TV soapie where a baby boy was born and the big question in the tiny community was: will he be circumcised? The producers neatly sidestepped the issue by having the mother declare, ‘He’s going to look just like his daddy’. In other words, it doesn’t matter. It’s a personal choice and no-one else’s business.

Paul was trying to introduce this unique idea to the Jews. For thousands of years circumcision had been a sign of obedience to the Law. Jews believed that God looked with favour upon those who were circumcised, and they therefore frowned on those who were uncircumcised. Paul teaches that outward obedience to the Law means nothing in God’s sight unless that obedience reflects the right inner attitude. In short, your relationship with God is what counts not an external attempt to obey his rules. If you are right with God in your heart, then obedience to his rules come easily. It does not work the other way round.

Help me, Lord, to grow in your light and, through your love and forgiveness, help me to live my life in accordance with your ways. Amen.

by Kathy Hoopman, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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