Ezrach’ - Native

A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart--by the Spirit, not the letter. His praise is not from men but from God. – Romans 2:27-29 HCSB

In Tzedekah, there is no more advantage in being genetically Jewish than there is in being a blond, blue-eyed German.[1] It is humans, not God, who cling to the illusion of genetic advantages. He has always cared more about our souls than our biological heritage. God can make even stones into sons of Abraham if He chooses.[2]

God is willing to take a group of people who are not His and turn them into His own unique possession[3] and this applies not only to the Jewish people, but also to the Gentiles.[4]

Abraham was not a Hebrew until God got hold of him. The Jews were not a people until God got hold of them. The Pharisees forgot that important fact. God is the true Jew. He taught all these concepts to Abraham, Isaac and Moses. If the Jewish people have any advantage, it is because Yah granted it.

Since it is God who makes one a Jew, it is not the one who is outwardly circumcised but the one who has conformed his heart inwardly who becomes the true Jew[5] and just as in Abraham’s case, this is done by simple faith.[6] Our faith can be credited to us as righteousness.[7]

This deceptively simple act necessitates “Circumcision of the Heart” rather than of the flesh.[8] Becoming a true son of Abraham involves repentance of sin, baptism by the Holy Spirit, baptism by water and the production of fruit that is consistent with our repentance. It also involves receiving a new spirit and transforming our outer lives to reflect the new man within us through careful observance of God’s ordinances.[9]

Faith improperly placed is dangerous. Our faith, when placed in the Messiah Jesus Christ, grants us citizenship in God’s Kingdom. After all, the purpose of Christ’s coming was in part to unite Jews and Gentiles into one nation under God.[10]

Faith alone is useless. Faith unaccompanied by righteous works is dead and not true saving faith.[11] Those who seek the asylum found in America must agree to abide by its laws. Similarly, citizenship in God’s Kingdom implies responsibility. We must carry out the royal law prescribed in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[12] Then others will know that we are truly His disciples,[13] His children.[14] Then we will be Ezrach’ – heavenly citizens wandering on earth. We are born not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.


[1] Galatians 3:28-29
[2] Matthew 3:7-12
[3] Hosea 2:23
[4] Romans 9:22-33
[5] Romans 2:27-29
[6] James 2:23
[7] Galatians 3:6-9
[8] Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 31:31-34
[9] Ezekiel 11:19-21; 36:25-27
[10] Ephesians 2:11-19
[11] James 1:26-27; 2:20, 24, 26
[12] James 2:8
[13] John 8:31-32
[14] John 1:12-13