Paul
wrote, "He is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew
which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in
the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men,
but of God." (Rom. 2:28-29)
We
have so long opposed so-called "spirit" which slights
or ignores the actual obedience of God's commands, that we may
have forgotten that true obedience must be "from the
heart." Paul is not saying there is no such thing as an
"outward" Jew, but that such is of no consequence as
respects divine approval. God looks not on the outward man, but
upon the heart.
Do
we think "he is a Christian" who wears the name; or
"this is the church of Christ" because it is socially
or historically related to brethren once regarded as His church?
Isn't it time we realized that it is not enough to rally beneath
the flag,
"Church
of Christ." One does not belong to Christ because he sits
in a certain pew. He may sit in a certain pew because he belongs
to Christ. Hmm!
