Romans 2:17-29

Now, you claim to be a Jew because you lean upon your trust in the law and boast in your relationship with God. And you claim to know the will of God, and to have the moral high ground because you’ve been taught the law of Moses. You are also confident that you are a qualified guide to those who are “blind,” a shining light to those who live in darkness. You are confident that you are a true teacher of the foolish and immature, all because you have the treasury of truth and knowledge in the law of Moses. So let me ask you this: Why don’t you practice what you preach? You preach, “Don’t steal!” but are you a thief? You are swift to tell others, “Don’t commit adultery!” but are you guilty of adultery? You say, “I hate idolatry and false gods!” but do you withhold from the true God what is due him? Even though you boast in the law, you dishonor God, the Lawgiver, when you break it! For your actions seem to fulfill what is written: “God’s precious name is cursed among the nations because of you.” You trust in the covenant sign of circumcision, yet circumcision only has value if you faithfully keep the teachings of the law. But if you violate the law, you have invalidated your circumcision. And if the uncircumcised one faithfully keeps the law, won’t his obedience make him more “Jewish” than the actual rite of circumcision? And won’t the one who has never had the knife cut his foreskin be your judge when you break the law? You are not a Jew if it’s only superficial—for it’s more than the surgical cut of a knife that makes you Jewish. But you are Jewish because of the inward act of spiritual circumcision—a radical change that lays bare your heart. It’s not by the principle of the written code, but by power of the Holy Spirit. For then your praise will not come from people, but from God himself!