Romans 2

“But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God” (v29).  Paul wanted the early Jews and Gentiles to understand that God judges our hearts and actions, not our labels or our public identities (v6-8).  The good news is that “God shows no partiality” (v11); no matter our background or label, we are equal before God.     

If we personally reject God’s ways, outward symbols like circumcision, or being called Christian, won’t help us.  God knows our secrets (v16), and His kindness draws us toward truth, repentance, and new life (v4).