Religion is not enough

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.  – Romans 2.28-29

The Jews were confident that just being Jewish was enough. It's kind of like some folks think that being 'Christian' is enough. Paul writes about those who are Jews outwardly.  He might have also written about those who are Christians outwardly.

It is not only the Jews who took confidence in their religion. Many who claim the name of Christ as part of a major denomination also rely on their ‘religion’ to get them to heaven. Just because one is a good Catholic or a good Protestant is not going to get to heaven. Folks still refuse the riches of God’s goodness by judging others and resting in their own ‘goodness.’

So far so good, right? So what does that mean to me? ‘I am not a Jew, I am not a Catholic, I am not a Protestant. I belong a born-again conservative, evangelical, by faith alone, independent, local church. My parents were saved, everyone in my church is saved, I prayed a prayer when I was a kid. So surely I must be safe.’

None of that means anything. Before any of us sit and judge others we had better be sure that we are not despising the goodness, forbearance, and long suffering of God by putting our faith in a prayer or our baptism or anything else like that.

Paul uses circumcision to illustrate this truth the Jews. This, the most important of the Jewish tradition, was their trademark. But God tells them here what He really wants was not a circumcision of their flesh, but of their hearts and spirits. It was not to meet the letter of the law.

The same thing might be said of many who call themselves Christian today. God does not want outward conformity to a bunch of does and don’ts. We may try to measure spirituality that was, but God wants out hearts and spirit to be right. He doesn’t want obedience to the letter, but to His Spirit. By the way, obedience to the Spirit is going to always produce a much better and purer life than just ticking the boxes.