{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Circumcision of the Heart, Assurance, and God's Faithfulness - Romans 2:25 \u20133:8 | July 15, 2026","description":"Welcome back to One Single Story! Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Alyssa Bream as they dig into Romans 2:25 through 3:8, wrestling with what it really means to belong to God \u2014 is it about outward religious markers, or a genuine transformation of the heart? This episode tackles heart transformation versus behavior modification, the assurance of our relationship with God, and the philosophical puzzle of whether our sin somehow gives God more glory. Scripture Focus:&amp;nbsp;Romans 2:25-3:8 - Paul confronts the Jewish reliance on circumcision as a badge of identity, arguing that true belonging to God is a matter of the heart, not an external ritual. He then turns to address whether human unfaithfulness can cancel out God's faithfulness, and closes by dismantling the twisted logic that sin might actually benefit God by showcasing His righteousness. In This Episode:  Why circumcision became a &quot;badge&quot; for the Jewish people, and why outward compliance alone falls short The danger of measuring spiritual growth only by attendance, giving, or visible behavior How the Holy Spirit produces a genuine change of heart rather than mere rule-following Wrestling with doubt: does personal failure cancel God's faithfulness? A powerful sharecropper illustration about assurance being God's grip on us, not our grip on Him Breaking down the &quot;cheap grace&quot; argument that sinning glorifies God Understanding that God redeems evil in spite of it, never because of it  Key Quote:&amp;nbsp;&quot;I tripped a couple more times, but I never failed because the tether was dependent on his holding, not my holding... the assurance we have is not based on our behavior, because that's useless. The assurance we have is based on his ability to hold us.&quot; About One Single Story:&amp;nbsp;One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast offering brief, conversational lessons from each day's reading in the One Year Bible. Hosted by the pastoral team at Open Door Church, this podcast helps Christians dive deeper into Scripture, one story at a time, with practical application for everyday faith. Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at&amp;nbsp;visitopendoor.com&amp;nbsp;or explore the full podcast library at&amp;nbsp;onesinglestory.com. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a daily episode of One Single Story \u2014 join us Monday through Friday for fresh insight into God's Word. Coming This Week:&amp;nbsp;We continue our journey through Romans, exploring Paul's teaching on righteousness, faith, and the law as he builds the theological foundation for the Gospel. Be sure to follow along in your One Year Bible reading plan and join us for tomorrow's episode. Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Romans #BookOfRomans #HeartTransformation #GodsGrace #ChristianAssurance #ApostlePaul ","author_name":"One Single Story","author_url":"http:\/\/onesinglestory.libsyn.com\/website","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/42068185\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/204067835"}