09 Sep Pauls Footsteps #252

In Rom.2:28-29 Paul has redefined what it means to be one of God’s chosen people. He has set forth a fourfold contrast. Being a true Jew is: 1) not something outward and visible, but inward and invisible; 2) not circumcision of the flesh, but of the heart; 3) not merely an experience with the law, but with the Spirit; 4) not focussed on the approval of other people, but on approval from God.

Unfortunately, we humans are comfortable with the external, visible, material, and superficial. That is what God wants to change in our lives and is what Christianity is all about. Throughout the rest of Romans, Paul will be helping us understand how God through His Holy Spirit seeks to transform our hearts and minds. Romans is a book about God’s desire to change how we look at God, ourselves, and our fellow beings, and then how we put those new understandings into practice. I like the way the NLT puts the last line of Rom.2:29, “And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” That’s a test of my Christian experience! This is a sin that even follows me to church!

Paul’s summary of the first 2 chapters will come in Rom.3:9-20, but first he takes us on an 8 verse digression where Paul the Pharisee debates Paul the Christian. The debate goes through four cycles, with four objections being raised, and four answers being provided in turn. The objections centre on Jewish superiority in relation to God’s faithfulness.

The first argument arises in 3:1; what is the advantage of being a Jew or being circumcised? Paul will answer the first part of that question in Rom.3:2 and the second part in Rom.4, in which he deals with Abraham.

Meanwhile, we find here a question for us as Christians. What advantage is there in being baptized or belonging to a church (or even in going to church) if those things don’t save us? Have you ever asked such questions? You should!

Paul’s answer is, “Much in every way!” (V:2 NRSV). We will need to listen to Paul throughout the book to get the complete answer.