WHAT ADVANTAGE HAS THE JEW? Or, what is the benefit of circumcision?
Read what Paul means in the sentence before these questions (Rom 2:27-29). He is explaining what the difference is between outward physical circumcision, and inward circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. If we follow through these writings of Paul, we could get confused if we use the same meaning of "circumcision" for both physical (flesh) circumcisions, and circumcision of the heart (by rhe Spirit).
Also, the foremost advantage Paul lists is that they were entrusted with the oracles of God (Dt 4:8, Rom 3:2). Moses wrote all the commandments and statutes in a book of the covenant for God's people (Ex 24:6-7, Heb 9:19-22).
Man believes God's teachings with his heart. We believe the testimony of Jesus' life - and are considered righteous. When we live and act on our beliefs we show our obedience of faith. This shows that we are separating from gentile nations who don't accept Jesus. We show that we believes in Jesus' redemption of man's soul (Ex 13:9, 16).
Paul details the development of what a True Israelite is through the book of Romans. This is important because it shows the apostasy of the fourth beast described in Daniel's vision (Dan 7:23-27). The fourth beast which intended to change the Lord's holy Sabbath and change the Holiness of the day was Rome (Dan 7:25).
The letter to Romans warns those followers in that church to use the law of faith, not a tradition of man or church. Use the command of God (Mk 7:7, Rom 9:31,32).
The Sabbath is the most regular holy day of the Holy Times of the regulations of divine worship of the Lord God (Heb 9:1). The Law never goes away when we have faith. We establish the Law (Rom 3:31).
(Rom 3:30). We are told that God who justifies the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Do we nullify the Law through faith? May it never be? On the contrary, we establish the Law. See example of Abraham following the Lord in (Gen 26:4-5, Rom 4:1).
Biblical signs can function to confirm God's word or explain His meaning.
God had told Abram to go from the land of Ur. Abraham obeyed God and the command because he hoped for something better, (Rom 4:11, Heb 11:8-9-10).
The sign that was attached to Abraham was that he went out from Ur. Jesus says His true brothers and sisters are those who hear and do the word of God (Lk 8:21, Gal 3:29).
See the parable of the sower. The disciples were the ones who followed after Jesus and asked the meaning of the parables. They continued to discipline their lives to Jesus' teachings (Lk 8:9-10).
This is the process to turn wild olive trees into cultivated trees. They were taught and trained up to learn the ways of God's people Israel. The new cutting is spliced, or grafted, onto a branch of the root of the good tree (Dt 6:23-25, Rom 11:12).
By separating from the people of Ur, Abraham had symbolically "cut-off" Ur which represented the world of the flesh, the physical world, of the non-Spiritual. Abram had separated and "circum-cised" the nation of UR. He received the sign of circumcision.
Paul asks, "How shall we who died to sin still live in it? The Lord expects that we too might walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:2-7, 2Cor 5:17).
This passage describes how we choose "who to surrender to," and "who to fight to overcome to reject bad teachings" (Rev 2:1-3:22).
We have always been free to choose who to follow - the same as Adam and Eve - follow God's laws into freedom from sin and death. The devil, Satan's, mixture of truth and lies are still lies (Jn 8:44, Rom 6:15-23).
Paul describes the process to be a true Israelite:
Rom 7:4 "Die to the law through the body of Christ, to be joined to Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead to bear fruit for God."
Rom 7:6 "Now we are released from the law, having died to law - being bound by it- to serve in the newness of the spirit, not the old men of the letter."
Rom 7:7 Paul asks "Is the law sin? May it never be!"
Rom 7:10 He said, The commandment which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me.
Rom 7:14 We know the law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin (Gen 2:16-17, 3:1-6).
Rom 7:15 Paul said "I don't understand my actions."
Rom 7:20-25 "Sin dwelling in me makes me practice sin. The law of sin in the members of my body wages war against the law of my mind. Making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
I am wretched."
Rom 7:25 "In my mind I serve the law of God, but in my flesh I am serving the law of sin."
Rom 8:1, There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:7 the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God. For it is not even able to do so. Those in "the flesh" cannot please God.
Rom 9:6 . Not all the descendants of Abraham are Israelites. It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise (through Isaac) who are regarded as descendants of Abraham (spiritual Israelites).
FLESH VS. SPIRIT
Man's battle through the Bible is with his flesh (Gen 6:3, Gal 5:16 - 24).
Rom 9:4-5 What belongs to true Israelites?
Rom 9:7-8 They are not all children of God because they are Abraham's descendants, but through Isaac your descendants will be named (according to faith = believing and living according to the promises).
Rom 9:8 It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of promise are regarded as descendants.
Rom 9:13 Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew! Then he couldn't get it back (Gen 25:29-34, Heb 12:15-17). God's REMNANT of His people Israel is chosen according to God's gracious choice (Rom 11:5-7). The rest were hardened (Rom 11:7- 10).
See the Olive Tree example (Rom 11:17-19, Jer 11:16, Jn 15:2, 1 Cor 10:1-13, Eph 2:1). We learn from Israel - seek to know and understand what Jesus is trying to teach us (Lk 8:9-10). Paul includes Israel's example for our instruction.
Many individuals and churches are like Israelites during the time of Jeremiah the prophet. He presented God's Word to them and they said, "We will not walk in it." He said listen to God's watchman trumpet and they said, "We will not listen." Do not get that way (JER 6:16-17).
Separate from all forms of unbelevers (2Cor 6:16 - 17, Rev 13:14-16).
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.
We are under obligation, not to the flesh. For if we live according to the flesh, you must die. But if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God (Gen 6:3, Rom 8:12-14).
Jesus says, "This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God" (Jn 3:19-21).
Seek to be grafted into spiritual Israel. Seek to understand the Spirit of God, unlike a natural man who does not accept the things of the Spirit of God (Lk 8:9-10, 1Cor 2:14).
Key words; circumcision, separate, true Israelite, nullify law, establish law, steps of faith.
Remember to ask God if you have questions.
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