Does Your Heart Measure Up?
It is said that America is a nation ruled by laws. But what happens when those who are supposed to make the laws, enforce the laws and adjudicate the laws are all flouting the laws. What happens when the nations around America see what was once considered a bastion of Democracy and rule by laws, begin to deteriorate into disregard for the law? In Romans 2:12-24;28-29, Paul told the Christians of Jewish heritage in Rome, that knowing the Law would not save them and neither would their outward demonstrations of following the law (like circumcision). Obedience to the law was required and that obedience required an inward circumcision of the heart by the Holy Spirit. I pray that you are obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and your heart measures up to the spirit of His Law and is pleasing to God. Amen!
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. (Romans 2:12–16) Paul pointed out that all who sin, whether under the Law (Jews) or apart from the Law (Gentiles were never given the Law and therefore were “apart” from the Law) will be judged by the Law. Some Jews thought that they were superior to Gentiles because they had received the revelation of God through the Mosaic Law. Paul’s point was that even if you were a Jew and had the Law, if you did not obey it, you would not be judged righteous. Conversely, Gentiles who didn’t have the written Law but who had the Law written in their hearts and followed the requirements of the Law would be judged righteous. On the Day of Judgment, all will be judged by Jesus, the righteous judge.
The Jews and the Law
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:17–24) Relying on being Jewish, having received the Law from God and claiming a covenant relationship with God, did not make the Jews superior to Gentiles. The Jewish people knew the Law and were supposed to use that knowledge to be a priestly nation and a light for those who were In darkness (Gentile nations who did not know God). Instead, they broke the Law (note Paul’s questions regarding violations of behaviors prohibited by the Law), dishonored God and caused the Gentile nations to blaspheme God’s name (speak irreverently about God). As a result, they were not superior or righteous in God’s eyes just because they were Jewish.
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 2:28–29) Circumcision was required of Jewish males and was a mark of their religious faith. Paul pointed out that the circumcision that was important to God was not an outward circumcision of the physical body. The important circumcision in God’s eyes was an inward circumcision of the heart marked by the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jews who followed the Law outwardly but whose hearts were not right with God were not following the spirit of God’s Law. A circumcised heart is one that is separated from the world and dedicated to God. And the praise that we should seek is not that which comes from other people’s approval based on what they see outwardly. We are to seek the praise of God, and that comes from what is pleasing to Him when He looks at our hearts.
We have all heard the phrase “letter of the law”. It speaks to following and meeting the requirement of the law exactly as it is written. the fact is that no one is able to adhere to the letter of the law at all times. Think about times when you have exceeded the speed limit or walked across a street against a red light. Jesus in His love dealt with Pharisees, scribes and religious leaders who wanted to hold people to the strict letter of the God’s Law, knowing that neither they nor the people could adhere to the letter of the Law at all times. Here in Romans, Paul wrote to Christians of Jewish heritage who thought that they were superior to Gentiles. He pointed out that being Jewish, knowing the Law and having outward demonstrations designed to impress people that they were following the Law were insufficient to meet God’s standard of judgment. Only Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and our faith in Him freed us from the bondage that sin had us in because we couldn’t keep God’s Law perfectly. On Judgment Day, Jesus will not judge us by our outward demonstration, our heritage or our knowledge of the Law, but by a circumcised heart that has faith in Him and is dedicated to God. That is the only standard by which we will be measured. So ask yourself this question…. Does your heart measure up?
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
