17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

 

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

 

3:1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,

 

“That you may be justified in your words,

   and prevail when you are judged.”

 

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

 

2:17-18: In this passage, Paul identified the fourth and final group—religious and spiritual people that cannot escape God’s judgment. Here’s a brief summary of all four groups:

 

I shouldn’t be judged because…

1. “I live in a tribal society and have never encountered Jesus.” Paul’s reply: Creation points to a Creator. You worshiped false gods and idols. You’re without excuse.

 

2. “It’s not my fault. I can’t break free of my behavior patterns.” Paul’s reply: God has given you over to your passions because you have failed to give Him the proper glory, honor, and thanks.

 

3. “I’m a good person.” Paul’s reply: You have fallen short of your own moral standard and your conscience accuses you of breaking a universal moral law.

 

4. “I’m a religious and spiritual person.” Paul’s reply: Going to church, being baptized, reading the Bible, taking communion, and serving can’t save you from your sins.”

​

According to Paul, being “a Jew,” having “the law,” and knowing God’s will cannot redeem a person from their sins (2:17-18). While these credentials set Jews apart from Gentiles (in the Old Testament) they were signs that signify a person’s relationship with God and their community, the question still remained: Did God’s people really experience Him in a real and transforming manner?

 

Likewise, many of us are “Christian” in name, have read the Bible, and know God’s will (e.g., two greatest commandments, great commission, sermon on the mount), but have not been saved. We also are familiar with these signs and what they signify, but to have we experienced God in a deep and meaningful way?

 

2:19-24: Even though their privileged status placed them in position to be “a guide to the blind,” “light to those who are in darkness,” “instructor of the foolish,” and “teacher of children,” Paul condemns the Jews as hypocrites (2:21-24).

 

Specifically, he calls them out for stealing (commandment eight), adultery (commandment seven), and idolatry (commandment two). Not only did they break God’s law, but His name was being “blasphemed among the Gentiles” because of their sins.

 

Couldn’t the same be said for many Christians too? We are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) love (Matthew 22:39) and serve others (John 13:1-17), but fall short of God’s standard. Haven’t we broken all of God’s commandments? Have we made a mockery of God?

 

2:25-29: Because the Jews believed they had the right credentials, they also had confidence in their religion and spirituality. Their religious marker of circumcision also set them apart from the Gentiles. It was a sign that signified that they were God’s chosen people. It has “value if [the Jews] obeyed the law” but is spiritually insignificant when they failed (“circumcision becomes uncircumcision”) to follow God’s law (2:25)

 

Paul develops the idea of a spiritual Jew in 2:26-29. A spiritual Jew has been circumcised by the Spirit. This spiritual circumcision was “inwardly” and “a matter of the heart.” (2:29) A spiritual Jew not only “keeps the precepts of the law,” (2:26) but their obedience judges those “who have the written code [law]” and circumcision.” (2:27) Going beyond the rite of “outward” and “physical” circumcision, a spiritual Jew’s “praise is not from man but from God.” (2:28-29).  

 

3:1-2: In 3:1-8, Paul identifies three Jewish concerns, but these same concerns also affect religious and spiritual people. The first concern: What’s the advantage in being a Jew? In other words, the Jews were God’s chosen people (circumcised as a sign), but were living in exile. So, what’s so good about being a Jew? (Paul will list additional advantages in Romans 9:4-5.)

 

Paul’s answer: The Jews “were entrusted with the oracles of God.” (3:2) According to Moo, the oracles of God refer to “the OT as a whole…God has spoken to [Israel] and entered, with these words, into a special relationship with them.” (182-183)

 

3:3-4 What’s the second concern? Will God still be faithful? Because the Jews are experiencing curses (in exile) and not blessings, then God has broken His promises to Israel to bless them. And if God has broken His promises, then He is not faithful.

 

Paul’s answer: “By no means!” God is still faithful because He also promised to discipline (curses) Israel if they failed to obey His covenant. According to Pate, Paul’s citation of Psalm 51:4 illustrates an “David’s confession that God is just in judging his sin….David responds to his sin the way Israel should responds to their sin and exile, which is to repent and thereby be restored to Yahweh.” (66)

 

3:5-8 Here’s the third concern. Is God unjust? God shouldn’t punish Israel because in their sin God’s righteousness is highlighted and magnified (3:5; see 3:7 for an individual’s claim against God). In other words, if Israel’s sins “make God’s righteousness, truth, and goodness look good, then God is unfair to judge Israel.” (Pate, 66) Or to put it another way: Why “not do evil [so] that good may come?” (3:8; see 6:1).

 

Paul’s answer: “By no means!” God’s must not only judge Israel, but He must also “judge the world” with his righteousness (3:6). Paul’s opponent has uncovered an important point in his complaint against God, specifically, that God receives the glory when His righteousness shines through His judgment.    

 

So, how do these three concerns illustrate the heart of religious and spiritual people? Let me suggest three possible ways:

1. “Why should we go to church, get baptized, or read our Bibles?”

2. “God isn’t faithful because He doesn’t answer my prayers.”  

3. “I can do what I want since God will forgive me.”

 

Do any of these thoughts resonate with you? If so, then perhaps you need to do something about it. Don’t wait. Don’t put it off. Seek God. Experience the gospel. Be vulnerable. Be in community.

Here’s a suggested prayer to help you align yourselves with God:  

 

A Prayer for Salvation/a Passionate Relationship

“Dear God. It’s not enough to be religious and spiritual. I need to be saved from my sins. Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Only by trusting in you can I really experience your forgiveness. I’m tired of being a “religious/spiritual/Christian” from the outside. I need to repent. Change my heart. Help me to passionately live for you.”

 

1. Do you (sometimes) think that your relationship with God is “good” because you grew up in the church, were baptized, or have been serving for several years? Is there anything wrong with this kind of thinking (having the proper credentials)?

 

2. What does this passage teach about placing our confidence in things like baptism, communion, or serving?

 

3. Why is being religious or spiritual not good enough?

 

4. How does a person become spiritually circumcised in his/her heart?

 

5. Share about one person (from your Fab Five list) that you have been intentionally building a relationship with in order to create opportunities for spiritual conversations.

 

6. Drawing from your insights from this passage, how are we similar to the Jews (in the Bible)? To what extent can you see yourself in these verses?