²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, ³⁰ since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.

The God we worship is the God over all of creation, and He is the one who defines justification for everyone. The modern version of this point comes into play when the question is asked, “Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God?” There is one and only one God; there is not one God of Islam and another God of Christians. Or in the context of our passage today, there is not one God for the Jews, and another for the Gentiles. Abraham taught this in one of the most well-known verses of Judaism: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” (Deut 6:4). Jesus affirmed it in Mark 12:29 and Paul agrees!

Having said that, people may perceive the one and only one true God differently. The question, then, is this: which perception is correct? In our fallen world, the debate rages because fallen human beings “became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God …” (Rom 1:21b-23a).

There are many similarities between these so-called Abrahamic religions, which together claim to worship the God of Abraham. However, the similarity ends with the Christian belief that the one true God of Abraham who is Creator of all that exists became incarnate in the person of the God-man Jesus Christ, who died for our sins to provide justification. Muslims reject this view of God, as do those of the Jewish religion. So we can say a qualified ‘yes,’ that our God is also the God of Islam and the God of the Jews; they just do not understand Him correctly, and therefore do not worship Him correctly.

Paul asserts under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that there is therefore one true justification, becoming right with God. Since the Jews saw circumcision as necessary for being right with God, Paul refers to them as “the circumcision” and all others as the uncircumcised. Justification, though, is the same for either group, regardless of circumcision. Most commentators see the difference in being justified “by faith” and “through faith” (vs. 30) as stylistic, for Paul already stated that everyone is “justified by faith” (vs. 28). The point is that the same true God over all justifies all people, whether Jews or non-Jews. And this justification is based on faith, universally. There is no difference.

Lord, it is a marvelous thing to know that I have been justified by the Creator God of the universe. I praise You above all else.