Tuesday 13 August 2024

Psalm 37:1-29

Background
Paul taught that salvation was a gift from God and not something that could be earned. He also preached that the gift of salvation was offered to all people, regardless of their status or race. However, Jewish leaders were saying that salvation belonged solely to the Jews and Jews had to earn their salvation by obeying countless religious laws. Paul compares the Jewish leaders to the wild dogs that roamed the city streets, feeding on refuse and, on occasion, attacking people. He also calls them mutilators of the flesh (v. 2) because they demanded male circumcision as a prerequisite for salvation.

This passage is an affirmation that religion does not always require us to live in the past. God can give us new insights and lead us in new directions. For the Jews, circumcision set them apart – it was a sign of the special covenant relationship created between God and their ancestor Abraham. The apostle Stephen was stoned because he dared say that it required more than scarring the flesh of the penis for a man to be saved. He spoke of the sinfulness generated by an uncircumcised heart that will not accept what God wants and by an uncircumcised ear that will not listen to God (Acts 7: 51).

Paul participated in the stoning of Stephen, but, now as a Christian himself, he says that circumcision in itself is just mutilation and he proceeds to outline what is required to truly worship God and belong to God. In the process he provides a personal testimony about his own religious journey. His decision that neither circumcision or obedience to the Jewish law were required was initially a very controversial one in the Early Church.

John Wesley shared Paul’s view that salvation was a gift of God open to all, and he particularly emphasised the importance of people striving for a life of Christian perfection in response to God’s love. John thought if a person totally surrendered their heart to God it made perfection possible – and many of his early followers claimed to have become perfect. Charles Wesley and other leaders thought John was wrong and that perfection was only attainable after death. For example, John Fletcher, the so-called 'saint of early Methodism', commented: "My perfection lies in knowing my imperfection."

To Ponder:

• Some Christians believe that we can only listen to what God says in the Bible, while others believe that by following Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit, God speaks new truths to each generation. Which view is true of Paul’s faith?
• What does Paul say are the three signs of you having placed your faith in Christ rather than in the law?
• Paul does not claim to have achieved perfection, but he clearly is striving for it. Do you believe it is possible for a person to achieve a state of perfection?

Prayer
Help me to keep my eyes on you and to run the race that is before me, not comparing myself to others but focusing on what you want me to do. Guide my steps and, when I falter, give me fresh strength. Amen.

Bible notes author: Gary Best
Gary was Headmaster of Kingswood School from 1987 to 2008 and Volunteer Warden of the New Room in Bristol from 2009 to 2019. He has published over 20 books, including A Christian Alphabet, a study book for home groups.