JC Blog

Even today as Christians, it is easy to replace the true intent of scripture for something man made. We readily assign rituals and regulations to follow in the name of Christ in order to ignore the objective of our heart behind it. It is easy to look at the natural realm of religion and therefore separate ourselves from relationship with God. To avoid this, we have to keep our heart in check.

Today's passage of scripture is powerful. Paul is saying that the condition of the heart is what makes someone a Jew, or part of God's chosen people... "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical." ( Romans 2:28 ) Paul is saying that circumcision is an outward sign of an inward reality. It is the condition of ones heart that makes them a child of God.

Circumcision dates back to Abraham, but Abraham received the mark of circumcision as a token or as evidence of the righteousness he had through faith before he was circumcised. That righteousness did not come by observing the Law because it was given before the Law was put into effect. His righteousness came from Faith, and his circumcision was a symbol of that faith. ( Romans 4:11-13 ) Therefore circumcision has always been a sign of the condition of the heart, but the Jews forsook the intent and focused all of their attention on the physical aspect of it.

Therefore Paul is clarifying that being a Jew is not because you were born into that nationality or religion. Being of God's chosen people comes through circumcision of the heart, which is spiritual rather than natural. This spiritual transformation comes about by being united with Christ and born again. It is by the Spirit that this happens not by the written code. Galatians 3:29 says, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." This leaves no doubt that the church is now God's chosen people on earth. Both Jews and Gentiles who have put their Faith in Jesus are part of the kingdom of God, our 'circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit'.

Today, by believing in Jesus and putting your faith alone in Him, you have the circumcision of Christ. "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ..." ( Colossians 2:11 ) This is the true mark of a child of God. Amen and So Be it!

Isn't it interesting that many people look at Christians and think that we are abnormal and peculiar. We do and say things that aren't in tune with today's culture. In many situations we stand out like a sore thumb because our values and world views are atypical of what is going on around us. However, Paul tells us that the truth of God has been exchanged for a lie so in reality the world is the one that is upside down and anomalous.

The world has bought into the lie that God is not God. So in believing this lie anything counter to that falsehood seems unreasonable. A lie is something that is not true. A lie, by default was said in a conscious effort to deceive. No one by nature wants to believe or buy into a lie, however the truth about God was buried away by the darkness and futile of thinking because we did not recognize Him as God. ( Romans 1:21-22 ) This was a cognizant effort to mislead us away from the one true God.

When believing this lie, people will worship and serve just about anything else but God. People will serve money, jobs and possession along with an whole list of things not realizing that those things were created for our pleasure not our bondage. Jeremiah 2:11 says, "Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory [God] for worthless idols." In other words, what people have traded God for was something that profited them not and was worthless in comparison to His beauty.

On the other hand, God, our creator is the one who should be worshipped and praised. He alone is worthy of every adoration that we can think to mention. Recognizing this exchanges the lie of man for the truth of God and consequently turns the world right side up.

The first step in setting our hearts on the frequency of God's truth, is casting off our idols and whatever holds us in bondage to this lie. The second step is praising God for who He is. Tell Him of his mighty works, sing His praises and bless His name. This will put your world right-side up and in tune with the truth of God even if it is counter to the lies of this world.

Hollywood plays off the struggle between good and evil. Many epic movies have been created around this force that continually battles for dominance in the heroes lives. Each entity pulling in opposite directions until the stronger force wins and conquers.

We romanticize this idea and love to watch movies about it, but the idea behind the battle of opposites is not a new thing. The Bible records many such adversaries from the beginning of time. One example of this rivalry is that of faith and unbelief. We downplay this dichotomy in the modern day church, however doubt and distrust is the great antagonist of faith.

Faith and doubt move in opposite directions and fight to cancel each other out. Whatever substance is stronger will see the results. Jesus chided the disciples in Matthew 17, because their lack of faith. He told them that they needed faith as small as a mustard seed and then nothing would be impossible for them. However they let their doubt overpower their faith and rule the situation. It is possible to have both faith and doubt at the same time. So if all you need is faith as small as a mustard seed, then it is also true that your unbelief must be smaller than the amount of faith you possess to win.

How then, does this happen? How can we remove unbelief and exercise our faith when it matters most. We can learn a lesson of faith through Abraham. The scripture tells us that Abraham did not waver or question the promise of God. Because of it, his faith grew stronger. His faith was able to overpower any distrust and unbelief that he had. The Bible tells us that it was because he did not consider the circumstances, he only considered the promise and the one who had promised it.

Secondly we see an important truth, Abraham's faith rose up on the inside until he couldn't contain it and he started praising God in the midst of the situation. He considered the promise as fulfilled so it was a natural reaction to thank God in during it. Do you want to see faith win in your own life? Start praising the Lord for how he is moving on your behalf while he is moving. Do you have any doubt in your heart? Glorify God in the midst of it and that doubt will have no room to stay and occupy. Faith will take over and rise up on the inside of you until it fully conquers its adversary.

Lastly, from Abraham's example we see that he was fully persuaded that God was going to deliver what he has spoken. Have you ever tried to argue with someone who is entirely convinced that they are right? It is a mute point. It is impossible to argue with them because they won't consider any other possibility. To operate in faith, we must be like that. We have to be so convinced that God is doing what he has spoken that no one can talk you out of it. Circumstances do not matter because you are fully convinced. Chatter and opposition does not matter because you are fully convinced. Unbelief and doubt does not matter because you are fully convinced and persuaded that God has the power to do what he's promised.

Believe God's promise to you. Don't look to the circumstance, only to the promise. Let faith swell on the inside of you cancelling out all doubt. Praise God in the midst and be fully convinced that you will see the promise manifest in your life. This is how to operate in faith. Today, may these words bless you as you step out in faith and believe God, Amen!

It is amazing that Paul stops shortly after finishing his radiant expose of where the Jews fit into God's salvation plan to praise God for who he is. Taking a moment to reflect and think through how this plan has unfolded since the beginning of time warrants a thankful heart toward God. Nothing in all of creation has ever caught God off guard because his judgments and unfathomable wisdom have proved to be perfect in all things.

God's plan of redemption was brilliant. From the very beginning of time He utilized Christ to reconcile the world to himself. Even before there was a world, mankind or sin, Christ was purposed and foreordained as the perfect spotless lamb of God to be our sin substitute ( I Peter 1:19-20 ). God knew what would happen with the creation of man, sin would seep in and ruin the paradise He created, but even despite this knowledge He chose to create us. God knew Israel would reject him as their Messiah, but he still sent Jesus to the cross as the ransom for many.  Because in his infinite wisdom and knowledge he had the plan all worked out, he knew the end from the beginning and he knew what he would do to bring the world back to himself.

Reflecting over this amazing word will bring you to where Paul was, the point of celebrating God. Understanding everything he has done for us creates the desire to thank him and rejoice in him in all things. Everything he planned and purposed for our benefit from the beginning of time, no one understood. They watched them unfold and saw through prophecies what would be given through Christ Jesus. Many looked forward in anticipation to this time, calling those who lived after Christ, blessed and highly favored because of the infinite grace we have received through Jesus ( Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 4:6-8 ).

Now these hidden mysteries that were kept secret for generations are now revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God" ( I Corinthians 2:9-10 ). Now through Christ, what was once hidden and kept secret is freely revealed to us by God's spirit living inside us. We can now look at the things he has done and understand them a completely different way. "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ" ( I Corinthians 2:16 ). This enables us to freely understand God's purpose and plan for our lives. We can also read the truth of the word and understand it on this basis, that the Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God and reveals them to our spirit so we can understand what God has freely given us. We have the mind of Christ to lead us into all truths.

What a fabulous God we serve; so amazing, so complete and so loving. No wonder Paul started to praise God after writing this wonderful word and remembering all of the magnificent things he has done in bringing mankind back to himself. "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen" Today, I join with Paul and the millions of saints rejoicing in God our Father through the Lord Jesus Christ for the riches of blessings we have received in him, amen and so be it!