Paul is writing to the unincorporated in Rome—largely a gentile audience. There are apparently Jews there. Here, her explains that Jews are not true Jews if they transgress the Law. Further, Gentiles who keep the Law without having it are true Jews—the people of God. Paul gives us a clue as to the nature of sincere obedience. True obedience comes as a result of the circumcision of the heart, not of the flesh—what we refer to as regeneration.

Previously, Paul has been clear about everyone’s guilt. If we could be righteous, our works would justify us, but everyone has sinned. To become sincerely obedient, one must be circumcised of the heart. Though all Jews are circumcised of the flesh, making them part of the covenant community, not all of them are of the kingdom of God. Though Gentiles are not circumcised of the flesh, some of them are of the kingdom of God. One sure way we can know that we have been circumcised of the heart is by examining our motives. Do we desire to please God or people? Do we desire to be praised from God or people? 

Paul’s point, here, is the same as it has been. Outward works and religiosity gain us nothing. When we work for our justification, the wages are death. Paul is systematically deconstructing the works-religion of many Jews and Gentiles so that he has a vacuum to share the gospel of grace.

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