What does Romans 2:26 mean?

In the previous verse, Paul said a shocking thing. His specific target was devout Jewish people, who lived under the law and thought circumcision would save them from being judged by God for their sin. More generally, Paul speaks to anyone who trusts in their religious rituals or sacraments in order to be made right with God. Paul said that if such a circumcised person breaks the law, circumcision is of no value to him, at all. In fact, he wrote that for law-breakers, circumcision becomes uncircumcision—the ritual itself becomes a form of rebellion when it's not accompanied by obedience!

Now Paul goes even further with a teaching sure to infuriate Jewish religious leaders. He writes that the opposite is also true. If a Gentile—an uncircumcised, non-Jewish man—adheres to the principles of the law, his lack of physical circumcision won't prevent him from being regarded by God as one who is circumcised.

Paul is teaching that everything comes down to whether a person keeps God's law or not. This applies whether one is Jewish or Gentile. Later, Paul will demonstrate that nobody is able to keep the law (Romans 3:10). This means that everyone deserves God's angry judgment. Salvation must be found somewhere else, other than in rituals or good works (Romans 3:22–25).