F ollowing the reasoning stated in verses 25 and 26, the apostle Paul made clear the significance and true value of circumcision over uncircumcision. God had instituted circumcision as a mark of His covenant with Abraham and his descendants [Genesis 17:10-12]. It is a reminder to the Jews of their covenant relationship with God. This, however, does not mean they are automatically saved. Circumcision is of value only if they practice the Law of God to the very letter and obey it perfectly. Here is where the Jews failed. They were slack in keeping the letter of the Law even though they had the external privileges of circumcision to remind them of obedience. So in today’s verse, what Paul says is this – “Shall not the uncircumcision (i.e non-Jew/pagan, Gentile) who does not have the external privileges of the Jews, but who keeps the law, not condemn you Jews for breaking the Law of God?” Obviously so. To be sure, no one, Jew or Gentile can keep the Law of God perfectly. The purpose of the letter of the Law is to convict us of sin so we may resort to the Lord Jesus Christ who not only kept God’s Law perfectly but also became the perfect sacrifice for our sins so we might be reconciled to God. Galatians 3:24 – “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” We thank God that while the Law condemns us, in the Lord Jesus our Sin-Bearer, we are born again to walk in newness of life.
LESSON
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul … more to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. – Psalm 19:7a, 10
THOUGHT
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