Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Romans 2
²⁷ In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
²⁸ For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.
²⁹ No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
Romans 3
¹ Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?
² Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
³ True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?
⁴ Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”
⁵ “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.)
⁶ Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?
⁷ “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?”
⁸ And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.