Obedience

Rom. 2:28-29

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 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.

The issue is obedience whether a person is a Jew under the OT laws and commandments or is a believer under grace. Both must be obedient! Circumcision must be present whether it is an OT physical circumcision or a NT cutting away of the flesh of our hearts., The flesh must be eliminated! As I read the OT codes, there is so much detail for every area of life, but for the the NT believer there is grace. Are we misusing the grace that we have? 

The NT is replete with many put on's and put off's. Yet what is our attitude about them? Do we struggle with the same issues because we are enjoying them, and are consequently neglecting to put them off. I know that God has said He will not be mocked. Are we mocking the very gift that cost so very much? Sure, I am not saying that perfection is required. What I am saying is that when we fall, confession should immediately follow. A sinful practice should never be allowed whether it is a flaw of the personality, or a sin that we feel justified in keeping. For instance if a believer or a family member has hurt us. What they did was wrong, but it doesn't give us the rite to give them an equally sinful response. Our relationship with God should mean so much to us that we refuse to let anything in our lives interrupt it. Confession and grief over our sin and communion with God should be our go-to, that is unless we are not sorry, unless we have excused this sin as something that will always be there, unless we have forsaken the battle and not claimed the promises of God in this area. Even in grace, I think there is a line in the sand that can not been blurred by the tide of evil.  God's word says to put off and put on.

Father,

Help me to be true to You all the time. Give me that grief and sorrow for my sin. Open my eyes to see how abhorrent it is to You. Lord, forgive me. Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice and the gift of Your Spirit. Thank You for Your very costly grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen