Obedience Above Circumcision
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. Romans 2:25-29
Next to the law, circumcision was the most important distinguishing mark of Jewishness. Having just explained that possessing and knowing the law did not exempt any Jew from God’s judgement, (2:17-24), Paul now explains that circumcision would not either. Circumcision itself was the God-given sign and seal of God’s covenant with Israel. But the Jews had elevated this sign as a guarantee of immunity from judgement.
‘Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised’ (2:25). Paul doesn’t deny circumcision’s divine origin but he qualifies its value. The circumcised man ‘is obligated to obey the whole law’ (Galatians 5:5). It is true that circumcision is the sign of covenant membership but covenant membership demands obedience. Circumcision and the law belong together in God’s covenant.
Paul now makes two bold complementary statements: ‘if you’ who are circumcised ‘break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised’ (2:25). And ‘if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?’ (2:26).
Circumcision without obedience equals uncircumcision
Uncircumcision with obedience equals circumcision
On judgement day the ‘one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you [a Jew] who, even though you have the written code [the law] and circumcision, are a lawbreaker’ (2:27). Paul is unequivocal that the ultimate sign and true evidence of membership of God’s covenant is neither circumcision nor having the law but the obedience that both the law and circumcision demand. Their circumcision did not make them what their disobedience proved they were not. This is not salvation by obedience but obedience as the evidence of salvation. The unavoidable conclusion was that Jews were just as exposed to the judgement of God as were Gentiles.
Western Christianity tends to downplay the importance of obedience. How often has the preacher rightly said “Jesus’ last word to the church must be the church’s first word: ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’” (quoting Matthew 28:19). But equally valid and mostly omitted is what Jesus said next: ‘teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you …’ (Matthew 28:20).
We are to make disciples and not just converts and disciples are defined, at least in part, by their obedience to Christ (‘If you love me you will obey what I command’ [John 14:15]). Every Christian is expected to be a disciple. Are the marks of a disciple (including obedience to Christ) evident in your life? If not, what are you going to do to change that?