What Does It Mean He Who is a Jew is One Inwardly?

What Does It Mean He Who is a Jew is One Inwardly and who are the Jews in the Book of Revelation?

Circumcision of the Heart

The Old Testament prophets wrote about a time coming when God would circumcise the hearts of men and women and not just the physical act. It is about something within us and not without. It is not our physical bodies that God is interested in as much as our hearts. God sent Jeremiah the Prophet to warn Judah to repent and to “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD. And remove the foreskins of your hearts, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will spread like fire. And burn with no one to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds” (Jer 4:4). That meant they needed to change or turn away from their sins and turn to God in broken humility; that is a circumcised heart. Notice the father of the Jews, Abraham, was never circumcised when called of God him, so outward circumcision was not required when God called him.

Father of the Faithful

The Apostle Paul writes that even before Abraham was circumcised (Rom 4:10), he “received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised” (Rom 4:11-12). So “the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised” would cause Him to “be the father of all who believe without being circumcised.” Circumcision didn’t make Abraham a Jew…it was God Who called Him who made him into a father of many nations. Paul writes in Romans 2:28-29, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.”

Abraham 1657 detail from a painting by Guercino, Pinacoteca di Brera

Children of Promise

The Apostle Paul continues in Romans 9:8 where he writes that “it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.” That is the church; the Children of Promise. Paul later says that “if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree (Israel)” (Rom 11:17). This means that “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:29) because we’ve been grafted in by faith. Stop and let that soak that in for a moment; “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:29). It is stunning to realize that God says that “you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise” (Gal 4:29).

They Say They Are Jews

God did not choose us because of who we are. It is not about race, but about grace. Yes, God’s amazing grace, and this identifies those who in the Book of Revelation say they are Jews but are not. In other words, those who say they are Jews are actually false converts and have never had their hearts circumcised. They had a form of religion but not a relationship with God. When Jesus rebuked the seven churches, He said, “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the slander by those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9). Jesus warns another church by saying, “Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you” (Rev 3:9). False converts have their own churches and sinister ministers (2 Cor 11:14-15) so they are they who say they believe, but “are not, but like.” Paul says that “such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2 Cor 11:13). Shockingly, they are not Jews inwardly (those with circumcised hearts) but inwardly, of “the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews” but are most certainly not.

Summary

Sadly, many who think they are saved are actually headed to hell. Thinking they are too good to be damned. They are much like the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day on earth. They looked good on the outside, but Jesus said, inside, they were “full of dead men’s bones” (Matt 23:27). They might have been circumcised on the outside, but their hearts were far from God, and not circumcised. They were not the Children of the Promise, but the children of the Devil who wanted Jesus dead (John 8:44)! For those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ and been brought to repentance, they are the true Jews…Jews inwardly. They are those who have a circumcised heart: a new heart given by God (Ezk 36:26). They are now new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:22). And now, they are a Jew inwardly, not being bound to the Mosaic Law, but set free to obey Christ from the heart and not out of obligation like circumcision once was. Thus, we are Abraham’s offspring; the Children of Promise…the promise of eternal life for all who believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17). Now I can get used to an idea like that.

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Do the Jews Believe in an Eternal Hell?

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Abraham's Children, Book of Revelation, Children of Promise, Jews