Cut to the Heart

Romans 2:28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

What happens when the word of God is proclaimed faithfully? Are we happier, nicer or just better as a result? Do we go away after hearing thinking better of ourselves?
Most people would be amening and saying oh yeah!

That is not ever on record in the bible. Check out the reaction to the first Christian sermon in acts 2. What was the response of the people? Acts 2:37 says that they were "cut to the heart". After the word circumsized their heart and reshaped it with divine grace, they repented, were baptized and "there were added that day about 3,000 souls.

I want to be careful and clear so as not to confuse, but the bible is crystal clear about the Gospel cutting our hearts. It has to, as it surgically attacks and removes sin and claims a soul for a Holy Indwelling. Its as if the Gospel quite literally causes us a sharp pain, as we see our sin in the light of the Holiness of Christ and His Cross. Its not a happy feel good thing to think about, until your reshaped Heart praises the goodness of Christ. The Gospel seeks to cut us away from sin and mend us to Christ in love. That is what it means to be cut to the heart. That is what PAul is expressing in Romans 2 above and that is what New Testament Circumsicion is all about.