Title: Law and Circumcision/Romans 2:17-29
Contents
Law and circumcision/Romans 2:17-29
What, then, was Paul's message that stirred up the Jews so much? Then, let's take a look at what Paul preached about the gospel and what he called for repentance.
One,. The Jewish Contradiction
Since Paul was a thorough Jew before becoming an apostle of Christ, he knew exactly what the Jews thought through his own experience. The Jews judged and evaluated all human beings by their own standards. Their standard of judgment was the law and circumcision. Circumcision is a Hebrew religious ritual in which the epidermis of the genitals of an eight-day-old boy is cut off.
In this way, the Jews were possessed by God's law and were circumcised, so they were righteous unlike the Gentiles, and therefore they were caught up in spiritual arrogance and prejudice that everything would prosper. They condemned the idolatrous Gentiles, despised and ridiculed the immorality of the Gentiles, and even treated them as inferior to beasts.
Furthermore, the Jews had a sense of privilege and prided themselves on being a completely different class and excluded from God's judgment. Paul points out how wrong these Jews' wrong self-understanding and judging of Gentiles are. Paul here declares that the Jews, like the Gentiles, will face God's judgment at the end of the world, accusing them of not obeying the law and committing the same sins as the Gentiles, who claim to be righteous.
(Romans 2:17) You, who are called Jews, trust in the law, and boast in God,
The Jews themselves had a sense of privilege along with a high commoner consciousness. The collective name 'Jews' contains the ethnic characteristics of the Jews in it. The name 'Jew' is a different concept from 'Hebrew' or 'Israel'. 'Jews' is a concept opposed to Gentiles, and refers to those who have been circumcised with the Law as a religious principle.
The self-consciousness of being 'Jews' was their sustaining force, and they honored the name. Their pride and pride was that they were a nation that confessed the existence of the only God in the heathen world and followed His will. Therefore, the concept of a Jew can be said to be a name that includes the concept of the law and of God.
And they boasted that they had the same qualifications as those who lead the blind, those who give light to those in darkness, those who educate the foolish, and teachers of children. On the other hand, they deprecated the Gentiles as 'blind', 'those in darkness', 'fools', etc.
(Rom 2:19,20) You are the one who has the knowledge and the measure of truth in the Law, and you are the one who leads the way of the blind and the light of those who are in darkness. I believe in myself that I am the teacher of fools and the teacher of little children.
Because of Christians with strong religious colors like Jews, it is very difficult for ordinary people to meet God and it is difficult for them to lead a church life. There are two reasons for this.
The first is that I am afraid because I think that if I believe in God, I have to do that. Because this man is too religious and chasing the law and perfectionism. This is because external demands such as what to do and how to serve God are too heavy a religious burden for ordinary people who do not change.
Second, excessive religious zeal results in no example. It was because I finally found out that it was 'nothing'. Outward religious zeal is so great that it calls out loud prayers and terrifying piety, but in the end it only disappoints many. In the end, many people see their 'insignificant' life of faith, hindering them from believing and discovering God.
2. Limitations of Law and Circumcision
However, the Jews neglected to practice circumcision and keep the law, but they thought that they would become righteous chosen people and God's saved people just because they possessed the law. On the other hand, no matter how good the Gentiles were, they could not become God's people, and in the end, no matter how bad they did, they came to think that they could be saved.
Likewise, we should not assume that we are going to heaven unconditionally just because we become members of the church, because we have an office in the church, and because we have served God until now. This is the formalistic snare of the Jews. No one can be saved by law and circumcision.
(Romans 2:25) If you have obeyed the law, circumcision is profitable; but if you have broken the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcised.
We cannot impress God with our own righteousness or goodness. Because no one is righteous before God. No one can reach salvation by the good he has built up. Therefore, our religious life, devotion, office, and merit have nothing to do with salvation.
The reason Paul attacked the Jews was that they were making a considerable mistake. It is that the Jews are trembling with the arrogance of thinking that they are only doing the will of God, and because they have deep faith in themselves. But the Jews had their sinful contradiction in circumcision and pride in having the law, but not practicing it at all.
(Romans 2:21,22) Then do you, who teach others, do not teach yourself? Do you who proclaim Do not steal? Do you steal? Do you who say Do not commit adultery commit adultery? Do you, who detest idols, steal things from gentlemen?
Paul lists their sins in detail, and the crimes such as theft, adultery, and stealing sacrificed to idols were prevalent in the society at that time, and it was also rumored to the Gentiles. Paul quotes the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 52:5), accusing them of blaspheming the name of God.
The text points to this very point of our "believing in ourselves" misconception. We humans are little sinners, and we should give up the idea that we are holy. It is hypocrisy to think great of yourself, and it tells us that we are committing the same sin as the Jews who cry out for legalism before God.
Some people live a life that is nothing better than the world other than going to church. Sociability, character, honesty, service, dedication, etc...
That's right. When a person holds a certain position, they mistakenly think that he is a perfect person for that position. A preacher may mistakenly believe that the sermon he preached is himself. If I do a representative prayer, I may mistake myself for being holy like prayer. If you have a position, you think you are good enough for the position. Of course, you think you have to be great, but one day you will change your mind and mistake yourself for being great.
3. By faith alone
People live in a fantasy like this. But in reality it is not. No matter how good a Christian is, he sometimes gets nervous and greedy and has no choice but to commit the wrong sin in God's sight. This is human. Saints or priests who fall into the wrong religion are those who think they are holy and spiritual before God.
(Romans 1:17) In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, from faith to faith, as it is written, The righteous will live by faith.
How often do we do abominable things to ourselves? Are we really the light that illuminates the darkness? Are they the ones who lead the blind? Are you a teacher who enlightens fools? Because you act as outwardly and pretend to be holy, you and others mistakenly think so.
Moreover, just because God has good faith or holds a heavy office, such as a priest, does not unconditionally take care of his sins. However, it does not mean that they are regarded as a beginner or a layperson. God's wrath and judgment are without exception. It is not that the sins are hidden just because people do not know them, and even if they are revealed sins, they cover and forgive them among themselves. It's not like that.
Then, how can we approach God by doing righteousness before God? It does not mean that you come to church, and it is not solved by attending worship services with a religious framework, or by making offerings, singing hymns, or praying. You just have to believe in Jesus Christ. God forgives those who have been cleansed of their sins and have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
(Romans 3:27) Where, then, is there any place to boast? There can be no law, not by works, but by the law of faith.
When we look at the cross of our Lord's redemption and look at Jesus who died on the cross for us, we receive forgiveness and our sins are washed away. Going to church diligently, giving alms, tithing, serving, and praying all night does not eliminate sins. It is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ.
Billy Graham said, "I am saved not because I have brought hundreds of thousands to the Lord, but because I am a sinner."
That's right. What are we going to present before God? Is it because I did theology? Are you a doctor? high position? Did you donate a lot? Did you serve the church diligently? no. No one can come to God by our merit or effort. We must let go of the idea that we have monopolized our faith or that we have monopolized God. Because we have great faith in the cross of Jesus, God accepts us greatly.
The only thing God sees is because of Jesus Christ. Only those who receive him and are cleansed of their sins in him will be saved.
Bathing is not done by clean people, but by dirty and dirty people.
(Mat 9:12) When Jesus heard it, he said to them, ?쏷hose who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
(Luke 5:32) I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
conclusion
Our efforts do not bring salvation. What Paul is trying to emphasize through the text is the fact that all human beings are the same sinners before God. In other words, Gentiles without God or Jews who pride themselves on being God's chosen people are subject to the same judgment.
Paul emphasizes the fact that God's judgment is just and judges according to works regardless of the object, and presents the limits of the law and circumcision anew. Here we discover human weakness and fundamental sinfulness. Our religious zeal and devotion do not save us, but only through faith in Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 2:8) By grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Now we must return to Jesus. Circumcision and the law, symbolizing religious practices, do not save us. No one can be saved before God without the merits of the blood of Jesus. When human beings do not experience the work of forgiveness and grace before God, the law or circumcision is meaningless.
Now let's look at the cross. Let us find forgiveness and salvation and life from him. Our efforts do not bring salvation. Let us come to God as sinners. Come to the church as sinners. And let us be forgiven and forgiven.