Based upon Paul’s teachings involving the Jews in Romans, it appears that there was a heart circumcision aspect to an Israelite (or Jewish) person’s salvation even before Christ came upon the earth. 

Was this heart circumcision their guarantee of entrance into what was stated to be Abraham’s bosom: that place where ancient souls awaited resurrection.  We know that it existed, even before Jesus came and birthed His Church.  

So would this present to us the understanding that, not all who were born physically into the nation Israel would be or would have been chosen (heart circumcised)?  If so this may have been for apparent good reason, which we will attempt to examine from Deuteronomy.  

Also, Gentiles then wishing to join with Israel before Christ came, how were they granted entrance?  One would think that the same heart circumcision would need to be true for them, as seems true for the chosen ones from Israel.  

We in the Church, of course, just as with Nicodemus had done for Israel, seem to have not known that the heart circumcision was necessary, even for Old Testament Israel , in order to be a chosen believer in God before Jesus came.  We understand that now today: one must be born again.  

So does the verse in Deuteronomy 10:16 have anything to do with what Paul wrote concerning heart circumcision in Romans?

Deuteronomy 10:16  “So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. (NASB1995)

These words were recorded as part of a message to Israel telling them that they had a choice: either serve God or serve these other gods that they had seen in these other nations through which they had come.  God told them that He had set before them life and good or death and evil.  It was their choice.  If they were to choose life then:

Deuteronomy 30:6  And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. (KJV)

This is what Moses recorded.  So what does Paul say? His message is clear: he is a true Jew, who has had his heart circumcised (Romans 2:29). 

Today, Israel is back in the land which had been cursed, and as a result of Israel sin; they had been dispersed even as God had told them they would be within these two chapters of Deuteronomy.  Obviously there has always been a remnant of the circumcised of heart.  Even today it is so as we Gentiles have benefited through this same heart circumcision. 

So even today within the Church, as it was in Israel; not every church member is a believer.  Therefore, is it not also correct to believe that, not all alive and in Israel today are to be seen as chosen in God’s sight?  Why else would Zachariah say this about Israel just before Jesus will return physically to that land : 

Zechariah 13:8  “And it will come about in all the land,” Declares the LORD, “That two parts in it will be cut off [and] perish; But the third will be left in it.  9  “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.'” (NASB2020) 

Thus when Paul states in Romans 11, that “then all Israel will be saved”, has God not already established the conditions upon which He will choose just what and, just who will make up that completed refined nation?  

So we are seeing today a critical look being made by many Christians (eg Tucker Carlson) concerning America and more especially the Christian’s unity and support of Israel as this supposedly chosen Godly nation is being set up to be added back to her own Olive Tree.   And is it not possible that many already living in Israel are in fact, those who Tucker Carlson and some others are seeing as being not truly the Israel of Scripture?  Many in Israel are part of the two-thirds who will not make it. For many there in Israel are not just Anti-Christ but even anti God in many respects?  We are not to assume that all these will be saved.  After all Jesus did tell the Sanhedrin that they were of their Father the devil.  Still today this is true. Now having seen God make this distinction Himself within Israel’s population it is still understood that I/3 of the current nation will in fact be saved and thus given circumcised hearts by God, but not all living or even all ruling there today will be among these.  

Our challenge is to help each other understand just what all this means. For example when Paul says that: “he is a true Jew who has had his heart circumcised”, does that make us who have been given a new heart in Christ a true Jew?  I know that many will disagree that that would even be a consideration, but why does Paul add that those of us, who enter into Christ are to be grafted into the same olive tree into which all of Israel’s former heart circumcised had been themselves located?  You see many premillennial believers attempt to cut all of Israel off from that tree in order to graft us gentiles in, but the saved from Israel, who died before Jesus came, were not cut off from that tree; for they died in that tree.  And those Israelites looking for Messiahs coming and who also accepted Jesus as that one coming from God; they certainly were not cut off from that tree either.  In fact “only” those unwilling to accept the true Christ were cut off.  Paul tells us that we only remain in that tree ourselves because of our belief.  

It would seem that God knew, who the chosen are before the foundation of the earth, because He knew back then, just who it would be from both Jews and Gentiles, who would endure until the end.  He knows the end from the beginning.  Don’t ever forget that. The end of either their life or of this age of mankind in which we live, and therefore many Jews still remain within the faith.  

Otherwise the statements in Scripture that many would fall away from the faith makes no sense, for the one true God to have it therein stated, when He has also promised that all who are in Christ will be saved somehow must imply a falling away from Christ.  Is this not why Paul says work out your own salvation in fear and trembling?  It is our faith in Him, which will uphold us in our time of trial and testing. 

James says:  

James 1:12  Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him. (NASB1995)

This trial or temptation as it is also translated is not from God.  Listen:

James 1:13  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. (NASB1995)

So what is the test or temptation that once passed provides one with the crown of life?   It doesn’t come from God, but it is from Satan, even as Adam’s test was from Satan.  Even as Israel’s test was from Satan (false gods). And this test is I believe the testing of our faith under fire, as only Satan can bring it. 

The fact that God is letting us know that this test would come; apparently means that it must come for each of us.  So this knowledge of its coming is part of our preparation for its coming.   The mind that is made up that God can never fail us no matter what Satan can bring will not fall. For that mind is the mind of Christ.  And the sin, which is in the mind of Satan to place before us is the only unforgivable sin.  It is that of denying the Christ.  And He, Christ, will not let us be tempted beyond what we are able, so long as we remain in Him.  Fear not him who can kill the body, but fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in Hell. 

And Tucker, you need to understand what God is doing with Israel. And Israel you want to be in the One Third who are found to be hungry to find and know your Messiah. And Church you need to understand that you will be here to make Israel jealous. 

Trust, and fear not beloved.