1 John 3:16


"By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Thursday 15 April 2010

How Paul Defined Israel

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men but of God. (Rom 2:28-29).

Paul defined a Jew as one who has a relationship with God not based upon works. The seed of the flesh base their righteousness on themselves and do not believe the promises. The true seed are those elected by grace. Their calling is not due to their natural descent. This is the meaning of “whose praise is not of men”. We do not put our confidence in our natural descent.

So to Paul, a Jew is one whose heart is circumcised by faith and the term is not determined by natural descent.

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