A great error in dispensational thinking is that all Jews carry a paticular favor different from all other people on earth. The fact, however, is the Jews that love Jesus are God's chosen people, the rest are like every other unsaved person - wicked and under the control of the devil.
Scripture continually tells us that there are only two types of people in this life – saved and lost, the righteous and the wicked; it doesn’t remotely outline three peoples as many futurists try to do. In fact, Paul the Apostle destroys that notion by revealing that both of these two diverse groups include Jew and Gentile alike. Therefore, biblically, everyman is either Christ’s or Satan’s in this life – no convenient man-made in-between.
Paul explains of the wicked,“Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile” (Romans 2:9).
And of the righteous,“glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also of the Gentile” (Romans 2:10).
Peter outlines the same truth in Acts 10:34-36, when he witnessed with his own eyes the Gentiles receiving the Gospel of Christ, saying,“I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all).”What he succinctly affirmed was: “God is no respecter of persons.” This is the constant theme of the New Testament. The Gospel is no longer restricted to the physical race of Israel but it has been opened up to all nations. In fact, them that fear him and walk righteously “in every nation” are now “accepted with him.” He is assuredly “Lord of all.”
He came to Israel first to fulfill Scripture; the sheep within that nation heard His voice. The Gospel was then widened out to the nations, where His sheep also have heard His voice and many have believed. Salvation has now come to embrace the Gentiles in an extraordinary way. Millions have now be brought into God’s graet covenant of grace.
The true Israel of Israel were saved when Christ came, true Israelites have been getting saved ever since.
Romans 9:6-8 confirms this, saying, “for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham (through the flesh), are they all children: but,In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
The only thing that carries merit with God is a penitent heart towards Christ. Sadly, the overwhelmingly majority of modern-day Israelis heart is hardened towards God – and His only provision for sin – the Lord Jesus Christ. This passage confirms that Christ-rejecting Israelis – “they which are the children of the flesh” – “are not the children of God.”
Some Christians mistakenly believe that Jewish birthright carries some special favor with God today. They speak about the Jews - who we know are overwhelmingly Christ-rejecting - as if they are God's chosen people or are God's favorites. This is wrong and runs contrary to the teaching of Christ, the NT Scriptures and truth its self. The Jews that love Christ are God's chosen people, the Jews that don't are of their father the devil.
Galatians 3:26-29 says, “For ye are all the children of the God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
This reading is not in any way saying that one's race, natural standing, or gender is cancelled by conversion. That would be absurd. What it saying is, in God’s spiritual house of faith – the redeemed Church of all generations – one’s ethnic background or personal status means absolutely nothing to the Lord. Our nationality, race, parentage, birthplace, color or gender has no bearing on how God’s views or deals with us, neither does it affect the blessings He bestows upon each redeemed member of the body of Christ. Race carries no special treatment, benefits or merit in this New Testament era. What this passage confirms is (and despite what Dispensationalists argue), when it comes to salvation ethnicity means nothing to God. Although the convert obviously maintains his nationality (in a natural sense), in a spiritual sense he becomes part of a new arrangement with a new identity. His heritage becomes spiritual and favored and he enters into the great household of faith. He automatically becomes the spiritual offspring of Abraham by faith. It is an environment where one’s natural background, identity or ability counts for nought. Within God’s kingdom everyone stands on a level playing field.
While there are natural distinctions within the body, there are no spiritual distinctions. While there are natural peculiarities within the body there is no natural division. The body is one unitary harmonious organism. The different members of the body are unique, yet they are all complementary. They are all needed and are beautifully harmonious. Every cultural difference that separates men is eternally abolished through the blood of Jesus. His people take on a common identity – sinners saved by grace. There are no great men, just a great God. All men receive an equal blessing when they repent in salvation. One's Jewishness therefore carries no additional favor in the New Testament. One's Jewishness means absolutely nothing to God.
Race means nothing in God’s eyes; He is rather interested in hearts. It has always been that way. In the Old Testament, 1 Samuel 16:7 explains, “for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”This rule has always pertained to God. He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:29, Romans 2:11, Galatians 2:6, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25, 1 Peter 1:17). The sinner (of all nationalities) enters exclusively into communion with God through regeneration and the new birth experience. Through the cross, we all stand on a level playing field. We are all one; there are no special sub groups within the body of Christ.
This reading is not saying that there are no longer natural Jews or Greeks “in Christ.” Rather, it is saying there is no spiritual distinction or sub-group "in Christ.” There is no division within the body. We are all one. We all belong to the one cohesive organism of faith, enjoying the exact same blessing and the same promises. We all enter on the same terms on the same level trusting in the same answer. Essentially, in our language, there is no difference between an Irishman, Jew or American in Christ. They are all simply sinners saved by grace. Time after time Paul reiterates the fact that one’s nationality has nothing whatsoever to do with the favor of God in this New Testament era – there is expressly “neither Jew nor Greek.” God has clearly no racial favorites, and is restricted by no national borders. The family of God today is rather one single unitary people of all nations that have been unified “in Christ” through “faith” and have spiritually become “Abraham’s seed.” The Church of Jesus Christ – His body – is the sole spiritual mechanism whereby men can enter into the spiritual heritage of Abraham today. It includes all those who are of the “household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Those who belong to the Church are therefore the spiritual descendents of Abraham – the spiritual house of Israel.
