SpiritualHelp.iPrance.ca   Daily Bible Study

 Daily Bible Study  March 25, 2002 

Scripture and  Summary, Questions and More:

Online Bible courtesy of Gospelcom.net 
See Romans 2 in the New King James Version 
See Romans 2 in the New American Standard Bible
 

Beginning study on Romans

Chapter 2

Part 4

25   Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.
26   If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?
27   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.
28   A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
29   No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
 

Commentary:

Outward Circumcision is meant as a sign that you observe the Law.  It was meant as a reminder of the covenant.  Of course, circumcision is not something that can be displayed on the outside.  But one who keeps the law will be known by his testimony.
Therefore, Circumcision is a distinctive to label a people.  Paul says that the one who obeys the Law but who is not circumcised is just as "Jewish" as the the Jew who obeys the Law.  On the uther hand, if a person is circumcised but does not obey the Law, then it is if he is not circumcised.
Circumcision of the Heart is the working of the Holy Spirit in a person's life.  This is what the Lord is doing, planting the Law (or its essence) in our hearts.

Note that on different days, the placement of the commentary on the page will vary.  Sometimes, I will use the left pane and sometimes the right pane.

How are you coming at writing out, or even memorizing scripture? This is the best way to study!


Romans is a primer on the relationship of the Believer to The Lord Jesus Christ.

Today we are concluding our study of Chapter 2 of Romans.

Keep in mind, as we study, that we want to address:

  • 1. How am I saved?
  • 2. Can I lose my salvation (that is, if I commit a sin, will I find I am no longer saved)?
  • 3. If I keep on sinning, will I be saved?
  • 4. Is there victory over sin? 
  • 5. If I neglect my relationship with the Lord Jesus, what happens to my salvation? 
  • 6. Once I am saved, do I have license to keep on sinning? 
The further issues are: 
  • 7. Once I am saved, how do I keep from sinning?
  • 8. Is it something I do, and thus it becomes an issue of pride? Or is it a work that God does in our lives? 
  • 9. Can we ever expect to overcome sin? If we do, how does it happen? How are we set free? 
  • 10. If a person backslides in his faith, and doesn't come back to vibrant Christian faith, is he saved if he is in that condition when he dies?

Romans Study:  Commentary:

Commentary on:

The Circumcision of the Heart

"A man is a Jew if he is one inwardly,"  Paul says, "and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code."  When a well-respected Jewish Rabbi came to Jesus, he started with a greeting that showed his interest; he said that he knew Jesus was a teacher come from God by the miracles he performed, because only one who had God with him could do these works. [1]

Jesus went directly from this, and said that we all need to be born again to see God, which Nicodemus did not quite understand.  Jesus said that we need to be born of water (either natural birth or baptism could be signified here) and the Spirit to enter into the kingdom of God. [2] 

The Circumcision of the Heart that Paul talks about is the same as the New Birth that Jesus spoke of.  We open our hearts and allow God to come in a plant a new life inside of us.  This life is of the Holy Spirit, and at the same time it is nurtured by the Holy Spirit. 

The shape of this new life has been laid down in part by Paul in some of what he has already said in this letter.  It is a life of faith (Romans 1:17).  It is for those who patiently continue in the life of Righteousness (Romans 2:7), who are not hearers only but also doers of the Law (Romans 2:13).

Some would say that I am preaching salvation by works.  No, I am only saying that God did not change the rules.  Paul's whole point is that if we do not keep the Law as Jesus taught it, to love God with all our heart and to love our fellow man as ourselves, we will not be saved.

But in case you have any thoughts otherwise, look at what Jesus teaches in Matthew 24:13 :
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
And again Jesus teaches in John 15 that we need to abide or continue in him.  If we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. [3]  If we don't abide in Him, we can't bear fruit, [4] and we will be cut off and we wither and are burned. [5]

So whether we live and see eternal life or whether we die off depends on our remaining in Christ.  The disciples were already clean[6], but Jesus is encouraging them to continue in Him.

[1] John 3:2
[2] John 3:3,5
[3] John 15:5 
[4] John 15:4
[5] John 15: 2,6
[6] John 15:3 

Summary of Today's Study:

The life of the Spirit is not just a one-time shot.  If we are to live holy lives (Without holiness, no man will see God), then we must continue in Christ.

 
Scripture is quoted today from the New International Version.  We work with various versions, because we believe that being well studied in the scripture will enable us to rightly divide the word of truth. We encourage you to do likewise, because of the insights we have gotten. Familiarize yourself with one, and then go on to use others.  My commentary is copyrightRick Galbraith, March 24,  2002.  It is my "daily devotions," my own study of the Scriptures, and you are invited to share it with me.