The Daily Word: Thursday, July 15th, 2021
1 Chronicles 19:1-21:30
Romans 2:25-3:8
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 19:10-12
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. – Rom. 2:25
Circumcision was the Old Testament symbol of God’s covenant. God told Abraham to circumcise himself and “every male child” in his household (Gen. 17:10) as “a sign of the covenant” between God and Abraham (v 11). This was an outward sign of an inward change. The symbolic alteration of the most hidden part of a man served as proof that he had given God authority to change everything about him, both seen and unseen.
But under the New Covenant, circumcision no longer has the same effect. Listen to what the Apostle Paul is telling the church at Rome here: circumcision is only profitable if you keep the whole law. You have a choice: will you be judged by Old Testament law? Or will you be judged by the blood of Christ? If you choose to forsake Jesus and be judged by the law, you had better keep every letter of the law!
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. – James 2:10
If you come up short on even one of the 613 Levitical commandments, you might as well have failed them all.
But you have another choice. You can be judged by the blood of Jesus Christ!! Aren’t you so happy God has given you another option through His Son? Jesus came and lived a sinless life in your place. He fulfilled every “jot” and “tittle” (representing the tiniest of details; Matt. 5:18) of the law! And He did it for you: so that when you put your faith in Him, you will receive the reward that only He deserves.
Make no mistake about it. At the end of your life, you will meet God face to face. You will be judged![1] You will owe Him an explanation for every word spoken, and every action taken throughout your entire life.[2] So, what will you choose? Will you be judged by God according to your own righteousness and held accountable for all your thoughts, decisions, and actions? Or will you be “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3): covered by the blood of Jesus, and free to enter into heaven for all eternity?
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your blood! I am so grateful for Your infinite and eternal sacrifice on the Cross. Thank You that when I trust in You, I have become your righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Thank You that because I trust in You, I don’t have to trust in myself! I am grateful, and I love You, in Jesus’ name.
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.
[1] Revelation 20:11-15
[2] Matthew 12:36