Tuesday, August 13, 2013

DAY 451 - Does Your Outside And Inside Match? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)


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Today's Reading: Romans 2:25-29

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Please click this link to read Romans 2:25-29

Bible Study

      These five verses in today's passage is full of meaning. It consists of three points mainly:
1. Jews who are circumcised do not automatically become the chosen people of God
    If a Jew breaks the law as what Paul says in yesterday's passage "they do all those evil things they tell others not to do", his circumcision becomes uncircumcision. The outside symbol of circumcision does not match the inside filthiness. His status before God is just like an uncircumcised Gentile.

2. Gentiles who are not circumcised may become the chosen people of God
    Paul's outside/inside reversal works in other direction for the Gentiles. Someone who is not circumcised keeps the law's requirements, it is as though they are circumcised. His status before God is just like a circumcised Jew being justified by God.

     Bishop N.T. Wright says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright):       The circumcision that matters is the circumcision of the heart, that strange internal operation spoken of originally by Israel's scriptures themselves (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4).  the prophets had spoken (Jeremiah 31:33; 32:39-40; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26-27) of God's new work in people's hearts; this, it seems, is what Paul has in mind.  He is talking, in traditional Jewish language, about the renewal of the covenant, and claiming that it has taken place in and through God's spirit. He has not mentioned Jesus in this passage, but it is clear that he understands this new covenant to be the direct result of God's action through his Messiah.           


N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone, Romans: Part One. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.41-42. 

3. Live out the real meaning of the word 'Jew'
    The real meaning of the word 'Jew' comes from the word "Judah" means 'praise'(Genesis 29:35; 49:8). Bishop N.T. Wright says: Paul wants those Jews to know if they want their name means what it says, then their praise should be towards God and not towards other human beings by boasting of their ethnic status as 'Jew'. Get praise from God, when God writes his law on their hearts by the spirit.(p.42)

    Wow, just five verses with such deep meaning. What have you got from Jesus today?     
                                         
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"



Spiritual Journal

     What I heard from Jesus today is: Does your outside and inside match?

    What I got today from Jesus is a question of whether we are true Christians. You are a Christian. People know that you are a Christian. Your family know that you are a Christian. But, are you a true Christian inside? When people think about you, talk about you, can they see Jesus in you? 

    Does your outside and inside match? 

Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to become a true and faithful disciple of you that our outside and inside match. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


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主一出手,風浪止住,平靜了!

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