Romans 3:29-30, Only One God

Romans 3:29-30 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

In human history thus far, the greatest natural catastrophe took place when God judged the world with a global flood. The reason was that God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually (Gen. 6:4). The witness of God was almost snuffed out of oblivion. A reset took place when God sent the flood.

Noah was the father of the post-flood world. Noah’s descendants began to repopulate the earth again. Through the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations were nations formed (Gen. 10:32). And soon, sin again pervade the earth. The Bible tells us that there arose a godless man called Nimrod who “became a mighty one in the earth.” No man could prevail against Nimrod. And he built himself a kingdom. It was called Babel. And this godless climate reaches a climax once again – “Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language, and this they begin to do and now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do.” (Gen. 11:6). This time, God’s judgement came by way of confusing their language so that they may not understand one another’s speech and the LORD scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

God’s plan to save these scattered descendants of Noah was through a nation. The Jewish people that came through the loins of Abraham. Immediately, in Genesis 12, God called Abraham to fulfil that plan. God gave Israel the law through Moses at Mount Sinai. God’s plan was that Israel will be His witness to bring the nations to the saving knowledge of the One God.

Deuteronomy 4:7-8 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

Indeed, Israel’s role was to reflect God in all manner of their life so as to be a witness to the nations, like a magnet, to bring them back to God. And it is through the Jews that the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, would come. The Jews had that pivotal role of presenting the one God to the nations of the world.

Israel is not to despise the nations because of their privileged position before God. Rather, to point the people to the One God! And their outward circumcision is but a testimony of an inward faith toward the One God! It is not a means the Jews would use to cut off or ostracise the nations.

Therefore, the answer to the Apostle Paul’s questions, Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Must be, yes, of the Gentiles also!

Similarly, the church has that pivotal role to be witness to the One God through His Son, Jesus Christ. May the church indeed bear a good witness to the honour and glory of God. Amen.