Romans 2:27-29
27 “And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the law and circumcision are a violator of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.”
According to Paul, circumcision and cultural heritage do not matter. What matters to God is an inner change in the heart. According to Paul, this inner change comes by grace through faith in Jesus, apart from the law (Romans 3:24-26). So, the law does nothing but condemn. The Spirit, however, brings life.
This idea of being saved by faith apart from the law is not merely a New Testament concept. Even in the Old Testament we see people like Rahab, a Gentile prostitute, saved through faith when she received the Israelite spies (James 2:25). Did she have the law? Not even close! And yet she, a prostitute, became righteous when she believed. What an expression of God’s incredible grace!
