Scripture to Read: Romans 2:25
As we continue to walk through Romans 2:17–29 today, we find God rebuking the Jews for placing their hope in their circumcision. Now, why would circumcision be so crucial to the Jews? Because, back in Genesis 17, God established His covenant with Abraham and told Abraham this in Genesis 17:10–12, This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. So, circumcision was a sign of obedience to God. Circumcision is then mentioned in Acts 7:8 as a reminder of God’s covenant with Abraham. So, as we examine Romans 2:25, God used Paul to help the Jews understand their wrong thinking about circumcision. God told the Jews that circumcision was the sign of the covenant of Abraham and that circumcision had value if a Jew lived according to God’s Law. The problem was that for any Jew who broke God's Law, their circumcision became meaningless to God. All the Jews had broken God's Law because they were ALL sinners, just like everyone else. Therefore, keeping God's Law is impossible; that is why everyone needs a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Challenge & Application
· What kind of religious traditions can people put their hope in today and totally miss Christ as Lord?
· Since everyone has broken God’s Law, how are you sharing that Christ is their only hope and they must trust in Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!