²⁵ For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

Sex was not the issue so much for the Jews of Paul’s day. The sign of circumcision had become so much a normal part of the Jewish life that it was taken for granted. It was taken as a badge of pride, at least in concept. For a Jew to be circumcised was like someone saying, “I am a baptized Methodist” or “I am a baptized Catholic.” It was a right of entry, an initiation of sorts—but at the heart it was an identification with a specific religious group. In Western “Christendom,” traditionally people identify as Catholic or Protestant. Even among Catholics, distinction is made between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Atheists distinguish themselves from “religious people.” The Jews distinguished themselves from Gentiles, that is, everyone else in the world besides Jews. Even the Jews (today) divide into orthodox, conservative, reformed and reconstructionist movements or branches. Yet at the core, Jews see the world in two camps: Jew and non-Jew.

Paul’s point here is this: the thing that sets Jews apart—namely, circumcision—has value for an individual only if that individual lives by the Law in its entirety. What is the point of it if the Law is being ignored? In reality, breaking the Law puts a person outside of the Law, and thus outside of the people of God. In other words, circumcision is not a magic entry pass that gives people special access to God, if they are not living according to God’s standards. So just being a Jew is not enough. There is, to be sure, an advantage to being a Jew, which Paul will shortly get to in chapter three. But first he wants to drill the point home. A Jew who does not keep the Law perfectly is no different from an unbelieving Gentile—essentially uncircumcised.

The application here can be made to us believing non-Jews (as Paul does many times in this letter). Simply coming to faith and being baptized doesn’t permit us to live any way we want. That would be like a child of the richest person on earth thinking that since he was born into privilege, he can do anything he wants, regardless of morality or sensibility. Our faith in Christ, being born again, even being given our spiritual gift, whatever that may be, does not give us license to boast over others, as though our faith is greater than theirs. When we do that we are acting in unfaith, boasting in ourselves rather than God’s grace. That is what Peter was getting at when he wrote his penultimate words, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord …” (2 Peter 3:18).

Lord, thank You for Your unmerited blessings in my life, which I do not deserve.