Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Romans 2:25-29
Transcript
- 0:00You guys be seated. We are continuing through our study of Romans, Romans chapter 2, if you want to turn there.
- 0:17! And as you are doing it, take a little survey real quick. By show of hands, how many of you have seen the TV show Matlock? Anybody?
- 0:27I just divided the room by age. Matlock, an attorney from Atlanta, Georgia, wore the gray suit every day, or the same gray suit.
- 0:41And almost in every episode, in dramatic fashion, he would make a closing statement that was far superior to the other attorneys.
- 0:49In Romans chapter 2, Paul has been making a case against the religious, moralistic Jewish people.
- 1:00You know, those that look down on the Gentiles that Paul listed in Romans chapter 1.
- 1:04So he's making this argument, making this case, and we come to verse 25 through verse 29.
- 1:14And this is Paul's closing argument for the case that he's making against the religious leaders.
- 1:21So Paul, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, leaves no room for any religious, moralistic person to boast.
- 1:31He has removed what they trusted in.
- 1:35And what they found their security in, which was their heritage, them being Jewish, their bloodline, being God's chosen people.
- 1:44And based on Romans chapter 2, they can also no longer trust in their actions.
- 1:51In fact, Paul called them hypocrites.
- 1:54They can no longer trust in being better than others, because Paul is making a case that,
- 1:59though you may not be Gentiles like Romans chapter 1, you still are just as guilty.
- 2:06They can't trust in their security of knowing and having knowledge of the law.
- 2:12And this morning, Paul attacks their religious activities or ceremony mainly by discussing circumcision.
- 2:22So let's read verses 25 through 29.
- 2:26I'll pray and we'll kind of jump right in.
- 2:29For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law.
- 2:34But if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
- 2:38So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
- 2:47Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
- 2:57For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
- 3:02But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.
- 3:10His praise is not from man, but from God.
- 3:14Let's pray together.
- 3:17Father, I ask now that you would speak to us this morning.
- 3:21The words that are spoken would be your words.
- 3:24The words that I have written down on a piece of paper would be your words this morning.
- 3:30That if there's something on there that is false, that you would allow me to pass over those words.
- 3:37God, if something false comes out of my mouth, God, I pray that we would forget those words.
- 3:44Pray that you are honored and pleased by what is spoken this morning.
- 3:48But more importantly, you're honored and pleased by what you do in the hearts of the people here and what we do in response to what we have heard from you.
- 4:00God, we love you.
- 4:01We thank you for Jesus.
- 4:02And it's in his name we pray.
- 4:04Amen.
- 4:06So what I thought I'd do first is, since circumcision is a word that we don't really throw around very much,
- 4:12unless you've had a child or a boy, you probably haven't heard that word in quite a while.
- 4:19I thought I would kind of explain, not in detail what it is, but why it's here, why it's in the Bible, what was the point of it,
- 4:27and then kind of dig into the text.
- 4:29So, Genesis chapter 17, if you guys want to turn there.
- 4:33Genesis 17, God has just finished reminding Abraham of the new covenant that he made with Abraham.
- 4:44That he changes his name from Abram to Abraham.
- 4:48And he says, you're going to be father to many, many generations.
- 4:53I'm going to bless you through your bloodline.
- 4:55So, Genesis chapter 17, starting in verse 9, we have circumcision for the first time.
- 5:08And God said to Abraham, as for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring, after you throughout their generations.
- 5:16This is my covenant which you shall keep between me and you and your offspring after you.
- 5:22Every male among you shall be circumcised.
- 5:24You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
- 5:32Circumcision was a ceremony meant to remind the people of the covenant made between God and Abraham.
- 5:40It was a reminder of the promise that God made to bless generation after generation.
- 5:46That Abraham would be the father to many.
- 5:49It was also a way that God was setting apart the people of Israel.
- 5:55It was a way that even the Jewish people knew that they were Jewish.
- 6:02And they setting them apart from the rest of the people in the area and of the world.
- 6:09It also was symbolic of the uncleanness that needed to be removed.
- 6:12To communicate in picture form their need to rid themselves of sin.
- 6:19By it being the very organ that passed the sin from generation to generation.
- 6:25Circumcision was a reminder of the covenant that had been made and the covenant to come.
- 6:31A Savior would come and cleanse them from all their unrighteousness.
- 6:34Now that of course is what it started out to be.
- 6:38That's what God's intention was.
- 6:41But men corrupted it into just a religious activity that separated people from one another.
- 6:48Not in a set apart holiness way, but in a superiority I'm better than they are way.
- 6:54We are God's chosen people.
- 6:57This act proves it.
- 7:00That we are God's chosen.
- 7:02And eventually because of their sin.
- 7:04Man's sin.
- 7:05What God intended to remind them of him.
- 7:08Had been watered down.
- 7:11And only reminded them of themselves.
- 7:14And how special they thought they were.
- 7:17So why is all this important?
- 7:22Because unless you've had a child.
- 7:25Circumcision doesn't happen in our churches.
- 7:29For sure.
- 7:31Because circumcision to the Jewish people.
- 7:35Is baptism to the Baptists.
- 7:37Is name another religious activity to another religious group.
- 7:42It is important because though we don't have ceremonies of circumcision.
- 7:45We in this room have ceremonies of baptism.
- 7:50Both are an outward expression of what God has done on the inside.
- 7:55Or at least that's what God intended them to be.
- 8:00And that is where Paul is leading us in the text this morning.
- 8:04There are three points this morning.
- 8:06The first being that circumcision or any religious activity in Christianity is valuable and is worthless.
- 8:13It is valuable and it is worthless.
- 8:15The second being that circumcision is not just for the Jews.
- 8:20And the third, circumcision is a matter of the heart.
- 8:23Now I'm sorry I didn't get very creative with these three points.
- 8:26There's no wordsmithing.
- 8:27It's straight from the text.
- 8:29So let's go.
- 8:30First point.
- 8:31Circumcision or any religious activity in Christianity or Christendom is valuable and worthless.
- 8:39Verse 25 says,
- 8:42For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law.
- 8:47But if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
- 8:53The value in being circumcised only occurs when the law is obeyed.
- 8:58It is the only thing that justifies the religious act.
- 9:04That's what Paul is saying.
- 9:06A religious act though is just that.
- 9:07It's just an act unless God has already changed the heart by which one can obey the law.
- 9:14That's the only way a religious act is important.
- 9:17This verse will be considered blasphemous to the Jewish people of Paul's time.
- 9:22Because not only has Paul questioned the value of this religious activity of circumcision.
- 9:28He has also said that it has no worth.
- 9:32It's worthless.
- 9:33Like the Gentiles who they thought were worthless dogs.
- 9:38If they cannot obey the law.
- 9:40So what religious life they have made with self-effort and self-determination is now being destroyed by Paul's letter.
- 9:52And for us, by the word of God.
- 9:56But this shouldn't surprise us at all.
- 9:59Especially up to this point in Romans.
- 10:02Paul has destroyed any ability for a religious person to trust in any of their action.
- 10:08He's destroyed any ability to trust in our own action that is not around Christ.
- 10:15That is not founded in the act and action of God through Christ.
- 10:20See, this is what the gospel does.
- 10:22It tears apart and destroys any ability of yours or mine to boast in.
- 10:29It destroys any ability for you or my own righteousness to make a difference.
- 10:35Because the gospel is completely 100% dependent on the work of Christ.
- 10:43So what Paul is saying here to us is that our religious activities, our baptism, our singing the songs, if you keep the law, are good.
- 10:57But if you don't, it is worthless.
- 11:00In other words, it is worthless unless it is a direct result of Jesus Christ in your life by which we obey the law.
- 11:10See, the gospel leaves no room for you and I to boast.
- 11:14None.
- 11:15It is a very one-sided action.
- 11:19We respond to the gospel, but after God has revealed himself to us.
- 11:22We can't even boast in our own religious activities.
- 11:26That's the point of Romans chapter 2.
- 11:30We cannot boast in anything we do except in Christ.
- 11:33And it is Christ who allows us or Christ in us that allows us to obey the law and only that.
- 11:45So circumcision or any religious activity is valuable and worthless.
- 11:51But not only that, in verse 26 and 27, circumcision is not just for the Jews.
- 11:57Now, we're just progressing through the text here, so when we get to the conclusion of verse 29, you'll see that Paul kind of flips everything upside down.
- 12:08Verse 26 and 27, circumcision is not just for the Jews.
- 12:14Now, originally, circumcision was one of the ways that God set apart the people of Israel.
- 12:19Okay?
- 12:19But now Paul is saying to all of us that circumcision is no longer just for the Jews.
- 12:26So being set apart is not just for the Jews now.
- 12:31Verse 26.
- 12:33So if a man who is uncircumcised, meaning a Gentile, keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
- 12:43Then he who is physically uncircumcised, but keeps the law, will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision, but break the law.
- 12:55Becoming a Christian, becoming set apart, has nothing to do with who you are.
- 13:01It has nothing to do with what you have done.
- 13:05And this is what Paul is telling the Jewish religious leaders.
- 13:09It doesn't matter what you've done.
- 13:11It doesn't matter who you are anymore.
- 13:14A Muslim can be converted.
- 13:16A Buddhist can be converted.
- 13:18A Catholic can be converted.
- 13:20A Hindu can be converted.
- 13:22A church-going American can be converted.
- 13:25It has nothing to do with us.
- 13:26And becoming a Christian is all about Jesus Christ and His call on a life.
- 13:32Paul again shakes up the religious Jewish people because they thought that they were the elect.
- 13:38They thought that they were God's chosen people.
- 13:41Now, for the time they were, but they were representing the spiritual church.
- 13:44They were representing God and Christ's church.
- 13:47They thought being members of this elite club was an eternal membership.
- 13:54They thought that they were part of this elite club in town.
- 13:57And like any club, they had control of who was going to be the members and who was not.
- 14:02They thought that they were going to be able to send out the invitations and invite who they wanted to.
- 14:07But that's not the case.
- 14:09Jesus Christ is the gatekeeper.
- 14:12He is the one that invites.
- 14:14He is the one who sends out those invitations.
- 14:17Last week in Philippians chapter 3, we talked about Paul's resume.
- 14:23Turn to Philippians chapter 3.
- 14:24We're going to stand a couple minutes there and then come back to Romans.
- 14:28Philippians chapter 3.
- 14:34We're reading verse 7 and kind of go back a couple of verses and then move forward again.
- 14:41Starting in verse 7, Paul says, same author, same guy.
- 14:47It says, but whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
- 14:53Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.
- 15:01So we're not sidetracking here.
- 15:05We're not chasing rabbits.
- 15:06This has to do with our sermon this morning.
- 15:08What gain did Paul have?
- 15:10But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss.
- 15:12Well, that gain is his resume in verses 5 and 6.
- 15:15It says, circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a heaver of Hebrews, as to the law of Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
- 15:33So all of that, Paul says, it was gain.
- 15:38But I count all of that as loss.
- 15:43And why is all that gain?
- 15:44Why does he count all that as gain?
- 15:46Because being God's chosen has its benefits.
- 15:50Like being schooled in the law.
- 15:53They were taught God's word.
- 15:55They had knowledge of the law.
- 15:56That was to point to Christ.
- 15:58They were beneficiaries of God's favor up to this point.
- 16:03But now because of Christ,
- 16:06Paul can write in Romans chapter 2,
- 16:08in verse 27,
- 16:13then he who is physically uncircumcised,
- 16:15the Gentiles,
- 16:16but keeps the law,
- 16:18will condemn you who have the written code.
- 16:20They will condemn
- 16:21the Jewish religious people.
- 16:25Because the Jewish people
- 16:26had all the advantage.
- 16:29They had everything set before them.
- 16:32God clearly
- 16:33moved among them.
- 16:35And still they have stubborn hearts.
- 16:37And still they refuse to believe
- 16:39in Christ.
- 16:42That's gain.
- 16:43Those things are gain that Paul lists.
- 16:45But he has to lose them all
- 16:46and says,
- 16:47I counted all as loss
- 16:48for the sake of Christ.
- 16:49Because Christ is much better.
- 16:52He counts all of that as loss.
- 16:54And not in a way like,
- 16:56I wish I could have that,
- 16:57but I will sacrifice.
- 16:59It's not in that at all.
- 17:01But in a willingness
- 17:02because something is far better.
- 17:06Now it's an odd comparison
- 17:08because it's not like comparing
- 17:11garbage to filet steak.
- 17:14Though that's an easy decision.
- 17:17Because the stuff that Paul lists
- 17:19in 5 and 6,
- 17:20his heritage,
- 17:21his teaching,
- 17:22his zeal,
- 17:23those were good things at the time.
- 17:25They had value.
- 17:26What makes it odd
- 17:29is that what did have value
- 17:31no longer has value.
- 17:32It's flipped.
- 17:34So what was filet
- 17:36is now garbage
- 17:37compared to Christ.
- 17:41In fact,
- 17:41everything compared to Christ
- 17:43is far worse than garbage.
- 17:45It is worthless.
- 17:48And compared to Christ,
- 17:50our best is nothing.
- 17:53And he says in Philippians,
- 17:58the surpassing worth
- 18:01of knowing Christ Jesus,
- 18:02my Lord.
- 18:04The surpassing worth.
- 18:06Paul says the worth
- 18:08of knowing Jesus
- 18:08is far greater
- 18:09than anything else.
- 18:13Look at that.
- 18:14It isn't just a knowledge either.
- 18:17He says,
- 18:18surpassing worth
- 18:18of knowing Christ Jesus,
- 18:20my Lord.
- 18:22It is a personal relationship.
- 18:24It is having that intimacy
- 18:26that has surpassing worth.
- 18:28Not our religious activities.
- 18:30Not our baptism.
- 18:32Not circumcision.
- 18:33Not the songs we sing.
- 18:35Not the books we read
- 18:37or the five points we master.
- 18:41It's none of that.
- 18:43Knowing and having a relationship
- 18:45with Christ
- 18:45is far better.
- 18:48Surpassing worth
- 18:49of knowing Christ Jesus.
- 18:50is an intimate,
- 18:54real,
- 18:55pure,
- 18:56convicting
- 18:56knowledge
- 18:57of Christ.
- 18:59So let's read further
- 19:00in Philippians chapter 3
- 19:01verses 8 and 9.
- 19:04Indeed,
- 19:04I count everything
- 19:05as lost
- 19:06because of the surpassing worth
- 19:07of knowing Christ Jesus,
- 19:08my Lord.
- 19:09For His sake,
- 19:10I have suffered
- 19:10the loss of all things
- 19:12and count them
- 19:13as rubbish
- 19:13in order that I may
- 19:15gain Christ
- 19:16and be found in Him,
- 19:18not having a righteousness
- 19:19of my own
- 19:20that comes from the law.
- 19:21But that which comes
- 19:23through faith in Christ,
- 19:24the righteousness
- 19:25from God
- 19:26that depends
- 19:26on faith.
- 19:30He isn't just
- 19:31losing something.
- 19:32It is losing something
- 19:34that he saw
- 19:35was damaging to him.
- 19:37That Paul saw
- 19:38as a detriment to him.
- 19:40Paul saw
- 19:40that his religion,
- 19:42his self-righteousness,
- 19:43in verse 9 he says,
- 19:44righteousness of my own
- 19:46that came from the law.
- 19:48Religious activity
- 19:49was damaging
- 19:50or damaging to him.
- 19:52And it's damaging
- 19:53to you and to me.
- 19:55Our self-righteousness
- 19:57damages us.
- 19:59It is what we must lose.
- 20:00We must put aside.
- 20:02And this is the point
- 20:03that Paul is trying
- 20:05to get at here
- 20:06saying circumcision
- 20:07is worthless
- 20:08unless you obey the law.
- 20:09And you can't obey
- 20:10the law without Christ.
- 20:11So your religious activity
- 20:13is worthless
- 20:14to the Jewish people.
- 20:17We must break
- 20:18from our moralistic view
- 20:21and gain a kingdom view.
- 20:24We must break
- 20:24from our religious traditions
- 20:26and practice holiness.
- 20:28We must break
- 20:28from our religious apathy
- 20:30and pursue Christ
- 20:31no matter where
- 20:32that takes us.
- 20:35Knowing Christ
- 20:36is far better
- 20:37than anything else.
- 20:39Far better.
- 20:40And because Christ
- 20:43is far better
- 20:44and received
- 20:45only by faith
- 20:47not by works
- 20:48Paul can say
- 20:50in Romans chapter 2
- 20:51that circumcision
- 20:53is for all people
- 20:54as long as it is
- 20:55a result of Christ
- 20:56and not
- 20:57a religious activity.
- 21:02The pursuit
- 21:03of the law
- 21:04through religious activities
- 21:06gets us nowhere.
- 21:08And it is
- 21:10why religion
- 21:11is damaging
- 21:12to our souls.
- 21:14Religion leads
- 21:15to death
- 21:15and Jesus
- 21:16is life.
- 21:18So we've built up
- 21:19to this point
- 21:20verse 28 and 29.
- 21:23And the third
- 21:24final point
- 21:24circumcision
- 21:25is a matter
- 21:26of the heart.
- 21:30It says
- 21:31verse 28
- 21:32For no one
- 21:33is a Jew
- 21:33who is merely
- 21:34one outwardly
- 21:35nor is circumcision
- 21:37outward and physical.
- 21:40In other words
- 21:40what makes a person
- 21:42a Jew
- 21:42is not what they wear.
- 21:44It's not what they practice
- 21:45or what they do.
- 21:46It is who they are.
- 21:47They're born into it.
- 21:48It's a blood
- 21:49thing.
- 21:51And likewise
- 21:51circumcision
- 21:52is much more
- 21:53than just a physical act.
- 21:55It is more.
- 21:55It isn't
- 21:56this religious activity
- 21:58or religious practice.
- 22:01In verse 29
- 22:02Paul clearly
- 22:03communicates this.
- 22:06It says
- 22:06but a Jew
- 22:07is one inwardly
- 22:09and circumcision
- 22:11is a matter
- 22:11of the heart
- 22:12by the spirit
- 22:14not by the letter.
- 22:17His praise
- 22:18is not from man
- 22:19but from God.
- 22:21See Paul
- 22:22if Paul
- 22:22hasn't already
- 22:23rocked
- 22:24the religious
- 22:26leaders
- 22:27his closing
- 22:28statements
- 22:29do.
- 22:29If they weren't
- 22:32mad already
- 22:33they're mad now.
- 22:35For Paul
- 22:35now says
- 22:36that circumcision
- 22:37is no longer
- 22:38a religious action
- 22:40but a God action.
- 22:41It's no longer
- 22:42something you do
- 22:44it's what I do
- 22:44is what God
- 22:45is saying.
- 22:48It is no longer
- 22:49something that
- 22:50we can do.
- 22:52Now
- 22:52hear me
- 22:54we can do it.
- 22:55We can baptize.
- 22:57We can
- 22:57sing the songs.
- 22:59We can read
- 22:59our Bibles
- 23:00but without
- 23:01being born again
- 23:02without becoming
- 23:03a Christian
- 23:03it still leads
- 23:04to eternity
- 23:05without God.
- 23:07And the religious
- 23:08leaders were
- 23:08banking on
- 23:11their action
- 23:12leading to
- 23:12salvation.
- 23:13Their action
- 23:14being what
- 23:15saved them
- 23:15is only
- 23:18what God
- 23:19can do.
- 23:20If circumcision
- 23:21represented
- 23:22the old
- 23:23the dirty
- 23:24the fleshy
- 23:25filthy
- 23:25being removed
- 23:27to show
- 23:27a membership
- 23:28in God's
- 23:29family
- 23:29then what
- 23:31more is
- 23:32circumcision
- 23:32of the heart?
- 23:35Circumcision
- 23:36of the heart
- 23:36is God
- 23:37removing
- 23:37the old
- 23:38filthy
- 23:39sinful
- 23:40flesh
- 23:40from our
- 23:40bodies
- 23:41and giving
- 23:41us
- 23:42a new
- 23:43heart.
- 23:45Ezekiel
- 23:4511
- 23:46verse 19
- 23:47and 20
- 23:47I'm going to
- 23:48read it
- 23:48but pay
- 23:48attention
- 23:49to these
- 23:49pronouns.
- 23:51Ezekiel
- 23:5211
- 23:5219
- 23:52and 20
- 23:53this is
- 23:54God
- 23:54speaking
- 23:55and I
- 23:57will give
- 23:57them one
- 23:58heart
- 23:58and a
- 23:59new
- 23:59spirit
- 24:00I
- 24:00will
- 24:00put
- 24:00within
- 24:00them
- 24:01I
- 24:02will
- 24:02remove
- 24:02the
- 24:02heart
- 24:03of
- 24:03stone
- 24:03from
- 24:03their
- 24:03flesh
- 24:04and
- 24:04give
- 24:04them
- 24:05a
- 24:05heart
- 24:06of
- 24:06flesh
- 24:06that
- 24:07they
- 24:07may
- 24:07walk
- 24:08in
- 24:08my
- 24:08statutes
- 24:09and
- 24:09keep
- 24:09my
- 24:10rules
- 24:10and
- 24:11obey
- 24:11them
- 24:11and
- 24:12they
- 24:12shall
- 24:12be
- 24:12my
- 24:13people
- 24:13and
- 24:14I
- 24:14will
- 24:14be
- 24:14their
- 24:14God
- 24:15that's
- 24:17good
- 24:18news
- 24:18that is
- 24:19God
- 24:20speaking
- 24:20God
- 24:22acting
- 24:22the
- 24:24heart
- 24:24of
- 24:24stone
- 24:24the
- 24:25dead
- 24:25heart
- 24:25without
- 24:26life
- 24:26is
- 24:26removed
- 24:27by
- 24:27God
- 24:28and
- 24:28in
- 24:29its
- 24:29place
- 24:29is
- 24:29the
- 24:29heart
- 24:30of
- 24:30flesh
- 24:30a
- 24:32new
- 24:32heart
- 24:32where
- 24:33we
- 24:33may
- 24:33walk
- 24:34in
- 24:34his
- 24:34way
- 24:35obey
- 24:36his
- 24:36laws
- 24:36and
- 24:37glorify
- 24:37him
- 24:38if
- 24:39what
- 24:40Paul
- 24:40is
- 24:40saying
- 24:41is
- 24:41circumcision
- 24:42is
- 24:42a
- 24:42heart
- 24:43things
- 24:44if
- 24:44circumcision
- 24:45is
- 24:45a
- 24:45matter
- 24:46of
- 24:46the
- 24:46heart
- 24:47done
- 24:48only
- 24:48by
- 24:49God
- 24:49then
- 24:51I
- 24:52would
- 24:52argue
- 24:52that
- 24:52obeying
- 24:53him
- 24:53is
- 24:54also
- 24:55a
- 24:55matter
- 24:56of
- 24:56heart
- 24:56both
- 24:58require
- 24:59a
- 24:59supernatural
- 25:00action
- 25:01on our
- 25:01lives
- 25:02both
- 25:03require
- 25:03God
- 25:04to
- 25:05work
- 25:05and
- 25:07both
- 25:07are
- 25:08done
- 25:08through
- 25:08Jesus
- 25:08Christ
- 25:09the
- 25:10religious
- 25:11leaders
- 25:11the
- 25:12Jews
- 25:13they
- 25:13followed
- 25:14the
- 25:14law
- 25:14the
- 25:15law
- 25:15was
- 25:16their
- 25:16confidence
- 25:16that's
- 25:18where
- 25:18they
- 25:18put
- 25:19their
- 25:19confidence
- 25:19in
- 25:20it
- 25:20was
- 25:20what
- 25:20they
- 25:21thought
- 25:21that
- 25:21would
- 25:21lead
- 25:22to
- 25:22salvation
- 25:22through
- 25:23when
- 25:23the
- 25:23Messiah
- 25:24came
- 25:24the
- 25:25Messiah
- 25:25would
- 25:25come
- 25:26and
- 25:26reward
- 25:26the
- 25:26greatest
- 25:27of
- 25:27servants
- 25:28if I
- 25:29can
- 25:29just
- 25:29follow
- 25:30these
- 25:30rules
- 25:31and so
- 25:33they
- 25:33followed
- 25:33the
- 25:34letter
- 25:34of
- 25:34the
- 25:34law
- 25:34they
- 25:34followed
- 25:35it
- 25:35Paul
- 25:35says
- 25:36righteous
- 25:37following
- 25:39the
- 25:39law
- 25:40in
- 25:41Philippians
- 25:423
- 25:42they
- 25:44lived
- 25:45within
- 25:45the
- 25:45guidelines
- 25:46that
- 25:46was
- 25:46set
- 25:47up
- 25:47so
- 25:48they
- 25:49could
- 25:49follow
- 25:49and
- 25:49obey
- 25:50but
- 25:52Paul
- 25:52writes
- 25:53that
- 25:53circumcision
- 25:54is a
- 25:54matter
- 25:54of
- 25:54the
- 25:54heart
- 25:55by
- 25:56the
- 25:56spirit
- 25:57not
- 25:57by
- 25:58the
- 25:58letter
- 25:58so
- 26:00whatever
- 26:00confidence
- 26:01they
- 26:01had
- 26:01whatever
- 26:02confidence
- 26:03you
- 26:03have
- 26:04in
- 26:04your
- 26:04baptism
- 26:05or
- 26:05in
- 26:05your
- 26:06walking
- 26:06down
- 26:06the
- 26:07aisle
- 26:07or
- 26:07in
- 26:07your
- 26:07songs
- 26:08that
- 26:08you
- 26:08sing
- 26:08or
- 26:08the
- 26:08things
- 26:09that
- 26:09you
- 26:09read
- 26:09whatever
- 26:10confidence
- 26:10you
- 26:11have
- 26:11has
- 26:11been
- 26:11thwarted
- 26:12whatever
- 26:14security
- 26:15you
- 26:15have
- 26:15has
- 26:15been
- 26:15destroyed
- 26:16by
- 26:18this
- 26:18truth
- 26:19that
- 26:19circumcision
- 26:20is a
- 26:21matter
- 26:21of
- 26:21the
- 26:21heart
- 26:22by
- 26:22the
- 26:23spirit
- 26:23it
- 26:24is
- 26:24the
- 26:24holy
- 26:24spirit
- 26:25that
- 26:25circumcises
- 26:25no
- 26:26longer
- 26:26a
- 26:26priest
- 26:27it
- 26:27started
- 26:28out
- 26:28being
- 26:28something
- 26:29done
- 26:29in
- 26:29the
- 26:29house
- 26:29then
- 26:30it
- 26:30went
- 26:30down
- 26:30to
- 26:31the
- 26:31it
- 26:31was
- 26:31a
- 26:32priestly
- 26:32activity
- 26:33that
- 26:33the
- 26:33priest
- 26:33did
- 26:34after
- 26:34eight
- 26:34days
- 26:35of
- 26:36the
- 26:36child
- 26:36being
- 26:36born
- 26:37now
- 26:38it's
- 26:38the
- 26:38Holy
- 26:39Spirit
- 26:39doing
- 26:39it
- 26:39for
- 26:40us
- 26:40and
- 26:40it
- 26:40will
- 26:40never
- 26:41change
- 26:41in
- 26:43Acts
- 26:43chapter
- 26:44two
- 26:44Paul
- 26:46right
- 26:46after
- 26:46Peter's
- 26:47sermon
- 26:47at
- 26:47Pentecost
- 26:48in
- 26:49verse
- 26:4937
- 26:50and
- 26:5038
- 26:50right
- 26:52after
- 26:52a
- 26:52sermon
- 26:52Peter
- 26:54gets
- 26:54done
- 26:54laying
- 26:55down
- 26:55the
- 26:55gauntlet
- 26:56on
- 26:56the
- 26:56people
- 26:57there
- 26:58at
- 26:58Pentecost
- 26:58and
- 27:00they
- 27:00say
- 27:00now
- 27:01when
- 27:02they
- 27:02heard
- 27:02this
- 27:02they
- 27:02were
- 27:03cut
- 27:03to
- 27:03the
- 27:04heart
- 27:04by
- 27:06Peter
- 27:06what
- 27:07he
- 27:07had
- 27:07just
- 27:08spoken
- 27:08and
- 27:09said
- 27:09to
- 27:09Peter
- 27:09and
- 27:10the
- 27:10rest
- 27:10of
- 27:10the
- 27:10apostles
- 27:10brothers
- 27:11what
- 27:12shall
- 27:12we
- 27:12do
- 27:13what
- 27:14shall
- 27:14we
- 27:15do
- 27:15and
- 27:16Peter
- 27:16said
- 27:16to
- 27:16them
- 27:16repent
- 27:17be
- 27:18baptized
- 27:18every
- 27:19one
- 27:19of
- 27:19you
- 27:19in
- 27:19the
- 27:20name
- 27:20of
- 27:20Jesus
- 27:20Christ
- 27:20for
- 27:21the
- 27:21forgiveness
- 27:22of
- 27:22your
- 27:22sins
- 27:23and
- 27:23you
- 27:23will
- 27:24receive
- 27:24the
- 27:24gift
- 27:25of
- 27:25the
- 27:25Holy
- 27:25Spirit
- 27:26the
- 27:27Holy
- 27:27Spirit
- 27:27is
- 27:27a
- 27:28gift
- 27:28to
- 27:29those
- 27:29who
- 27:29become
- 27:29Christians
- 27:30so
- 27:31if
- 27:31you
- 27:31are
- 27:31a
- 27:32Christian
- 27:32and
- 27:32you
- 27:33have
- 27:33a
- 27:33circumcised
- 27:34heart
- 27:34you
- 27:34have
- 27:34a
- 27:34new
- 27:35heart
- 27:36if
- 27:37you're
- 27:37not
- 27:37a
- 27:38Christian
- 27:38you
- 27:38can
- 27:39have
- 27:39a
- 27:40new
- 27:40heart
- 27:41we
- 27:43have
- 27:43a
- 27:43new
- 27:43heart
- 27:44because
- 27:44God
- 27:44chose
- 27:45to
- 27:45love
- 27:45us
- 27:45by
- 27:46sending
- 27:46his
- 27:46son
- 27:47to
- 27:47live
- 27:47a
- 27:47sinless
- 27:48life
- 27:49and
- 27:51because
- 27:51of that
- 27:51sinless
- 27:52life
- 27:52we
- 27:52can
- 27:53have
- 27:53new
- 27:54hearts
- 27:54on
- 27:56the
- 27:56cross
- 27:57Jesus
- 27:57had
- 27:57you
- 27:58and
- 27:58me
- 27:58in
- 27:59mind
- 27:59and
- 28:00not
- 28:00in
- 28:00a
- 28:00hallmark
- 28:01corny
- 28:02Christian
- 28:02picture
- 28:03way
- 28:03he had
- 28:04you
- 28:04and
- 28:04me
- 28:05in
- 28:05mind
- 28:05when
- 28:06he
- 28:06said
- 28:06it
- 28:07is
- 28:07finished
- 28:07he
- 28:09was
- 28:09drawing
- 28:10a
- 28:10conclusion
- 28:10to
- 28:11the
- 28:11need
- 28:11of
- 28:11any
- 28:12religious
- 28:12activity
- 28:13to
- 28:13set
- 28:13apart
- 28:14people
- 28:14it
- 28:15is
- 28:15finished
- 28:16from
- 28:16that
- 28:16moment
- 28:17on
- 28:17all
- 28:18who
- 28:18become
- 28:19Christians
- 28:19have
- 28:19been
- 28:19set
- 28:20apart
- 28:20based
- 28:20solely
- 28:21on
- 28:21his
- 28:21work
- 28:22not
- 28:22on
- 28:22anything
- 28:23that
- 28:23that
- 28:24person
- 28:24does
- 28:24based
- 28:25on
- 28:25his
- 28:25work
- 28:26the
- 28:26father's
- 28:27call
- 28:27and
- 28:28the
- 28:28Holy
- 28:28Spirit's
- 28:28draw
- 28:29God
- 28:31has
- 28:31been
- 28:31at
- 28:31work
- 28:32for
- 28:33the
- 28:33world
- 28:34till
- 28:34now
- 28:34for
- 28:36his
- 28:36glory
- 28:36and
- 28:36our
- 28:37joy
- 28:37and
- 28:37he
- 28:37will
- 28:38succeed
- 28:38so
- 28:40our
- 28:40question
- 28:40this
- 28:41morning
- 28:41is
- 28:41will
- 28:42we
- 28:42depend
- 28:42on
- 28:42him
- 28:43and
- 28:43achieve
- 28:43will
- 28:45we
- 28:45depend
- 28:46on
- 28:46him
- 28:46to
- 28:46achieve
- 28:46it
- 28:47and
- 28:47be
- 28:47part
- 28:47of
- 28:47his
- 28:47work
- 28:48or
- 28:50will
- 28:50we
- 28:50be
- 28:51dependent
- 28:52on
- 28:52our
- 28:52own
- 28:52work
- 28:53and
- 28:54be
- 28:54a
- 28:54detriment
- 28:55ourselves
- 28:55to
- 28:55those
- 28:56who
- 28:56are
- 28:56doing
- 28:56kingdom
- 28:57work
- 28:58a
- 28:59life
- 28:59that
- 28:59has
- 29:00been
- 29:00circumcised
- 29:01a
- 29:01heart
- 29:02that
- 29:02has been
- 29:02circumcised
- 29:03is a
- 29:03new
- 29:03heart
- 29:04it
- 29:05is
- 29:05someone
- 29:05who
- 29:05does
- 29:06everything
- 29:06for
- 29:07the
- 29:07glory
- 29:07and
- 29:08worship
- 29:08of
- 29:08God
- 29:09verse
- 29:1129
- 29:12the
- 29:12last
- 29:12sentence
- 29:13his
- 29:14praise
- 29:14is not
- 29:15from
- 29:15man
- 29:16but
- 29:16from
- 29:16God
- 29:17another
- 29:18way
- 29:18to
- 29:18say
- 29:18that
- 29:19the
- 29:19praise
- 29:20of
- 29:20God
- 29:20is
- 29:21his
- 29:21goal
- 29:21it
- 29:22is
- 29:22his
- 29:22drive
- 29:23the
- 29:24praise
- 29:24of
- 29:24man
- 29:24no
- 29:25longer
- 29:25entices
- 29:26it
- 29:29is
- 29:29the
- 29:29praise
- 29:30of
- 29:30God
- 29:30and
- 29:32that
- 29:32is
- 29:32what
- 29:32you
- 29:33and
- 29:33I
- 29:33must
- 29:33pursue
- 29:34that
- 29:35is
- 29:36what
- 29:36you
- 29:36and
- 29:36I
- 29:36must
- 29:36cling
- 29:37to
- 29:38the
- 29:39praise
- 29:39of
- 29:39God
- 29:40Paul
- 29:43has
- 29:43laid
- 29:43it
- 29:43out
- 29:44for
- 29:44us
- 29:44he's
- 29:46concluded
- 29:46chapter
- 29:47two
- 29:47and
- 29:47of
- 29:47course
- 29:48he
- 29:48didn't
- 29:48have
- 29:48chapters
- 29:48when
- 29:49he
- 29:49wrote
- 29:49this
- 29:49but
- 29:49he
- 29:49concluded
- 29:50this
- 29:50thought
- 29:51by
- 29:51saying
- 29:51your
- 29:52greatest
- 29:52religious
- 29:53activity
- 29:54is
- 29:54worthless
- 29:55apart
- 29:55from
- 29:55obeying
- 29:55the
- 29:56law
- 29:56and
- 29:56you
- 29:56can't
- 29:57obey
- 29:57the
- 29:57law
- 29:57without
- 29:58Christ
- 29:58he's
- 30:00laid
- 30:00it
- 30:00out
- 30:00clearly
- 30:01for
- 30:01them
- 30:01and
- 30:02for
- 30:02us
- 30:03this
- 30:03morning
- 30:03so
- 30:05my
- 30:05question
- 30:06to
- 30:06you
- 30:06is
- 30:06do
- 30:07you
- 30:07see
- 30:07what
- 30:07Paul
- 30:08is
- 30:08communicating
- 30:08what
- 30:09are
- 30:09you
- 30:09trusting
- 30:10in
- 30:10what
- 30:14what
- 30:15what
- 30:15is
- 30:15your
- 30:15circumcision
- 30:16this
- 30:16morning
- 30:17what
- 30:17is
- 30:17it
- 30:17that
- 30:17you
- 30:18think
- 30:19you've
- 30:20done
- 30:20and
- 30:20in
- 30:21reality
- 30:22it's
- 30:22been
- 30:22worthless
- 30:23let's
- 30:26pray
- 30:26together
- 30:27a
- 30:27Thank you.