Today's Passage - Romans 2:27-29

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Romans 2:27-29   "The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person's praise is not from other people, but from God." There is a book called "Life Inside Out", which is exactly the challenge Christians have to face every day. We really want to live an inside-out life at heart, lest we fail to bear witness for the Lord. So we are very cautious to live as a Christian. Sometimes you may have tried very hard to be patient before others, but you would relax once you hit home and say: "Oh, I can be myself finally." Actually the belief shouldn't have made you suffer so much, nor should it be something you attach to your outward appearance.     Paul said: "A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly". Here a Jew doesn't stand for a physical Jew, but a member of God's chosen people instead, or in other words a Christian nowadays, because in Christ we are the spiritual Jews. For "such a person's praise" referred to in Verse 29, "praise" actually means in the original language that "such a person being a Jew". It is not from other people, nor by physical genealogy, but from God. A true Jew from God is so inwardly, who is each and every born-again believer. Since he is so inwardly, that means our belief is not out of our physical reluctance, but out of natural manifestation from within. That the salvation of Jesus Christ is His grace means we no longer have to rely on ourselves. All we have to do is to receive God's grace and the power from His grace.      John 15:5 says: " I am the vine; you are the branches." We are just the branches, so don't overestimate ourselves and think that we are more than just the branches. In fact, we are only the branches. Only when we are connected to the vine, can the power flow. No matter how many times you have succeeded or failed in the past,you must be connected to the vine now to experience God's grace and abundant riches.                                                                        Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, we thank for your grace, which not only delivers us from sins, but also empowers us in our daily life. May the Lord help us keep connected to you so that the living water can flow out of me. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!