Romans 2:25

Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

Circumcision was an external rite given as a sign to God’s chosen physical people.  Many Jews believed that through birth as a Jew and the physical sign of circumcision, they were in right standing with God.  Paul makes it clear that this is not the case.  Since one hundred percent of old covenant Jews broke the law, they are left with a huge problem concerning their spiritual salvation.  They just like Gentiles need the good news that Paul describes in Chapters 3 & 4.   

Much confusion can be avoided if we remember the fact that national Israel was a chosen physical people of God and only a remnant of Israel are a part of God’s saved spiritual people.  Neither circumcision or obedience to the law was the grounds for the small remnant that was spiritually redeemed.