Romans 3:30

THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD

‘If so be that God is one.’

Romans 3:30 (R.V.)

In these words the Revised Version has restored to us a text, an argument, and even a principle which had been concealed. Salvation, St. Paul urges, must be the same for all, because all have the same God to deal with, ‘if so be that God is one.’

I. He appeals, therefore, to the character of God, assuming that God is known, in the only possible sense, and as we know each other. For, in a sense, we are every one of us unknown, unknowable. In a sense we all recognise this, and are agnostics with respect to our nearest and dearest. Let some new emergency arise, some demand upon the heart and brain, and the response of each will surprise and delight the other. And yet our knowledge is real as far as it goes; our faith in friendship and loyalty is not unjustified. I know not exactly how my friend will act, but I have faith that he will act worthily, and in character. So it is with God; and the pretension that we cannot be asked to have any relations with Him because He far transcends our knowledge, would, if carried into our relations with each other, be fatal to all our hearts.

II. Observe, further, this argument on behalf of a Christian grace, of brotherly kindness between Jew and Gentile, is founded upon a dogma, the dogma of the unity of Godhead. There are folks who say hard things of dogmatic religion. They only want the fine emotions, the exquisite temper, the meekness and gentleness of Jesus.

III. St. Paul had other views.—To produce a united and a loving Church, he appealed to dogmatic facts, to the unity of God, and the consequent equality of man. Jew and Gentile, he argued, shall alike be justified by faith, if so be that God is one. What he relied upon to overcome their jealousies and rivalries was the truth that God will treat us all alike, being the one God of all men, of all races.

—Bishop G. A. Chadwick.

Illustration

‘The Apostle is thinking of God; could he think of the God of the whole earth justifying one and refusing to justify another? To be uncertain, variable, wavering, this is the sad result in man of the mixture, division, and inconsistency within him. St. Paul, in this very epistle, attributes it to the fact that in a real and important sense man is not one but two; that his flesh lusteth against the spirit, and his spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other. In God there can be no such contradiction: Thou art the same, and thy years shall not end. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.’