Galatians 6:15-16
“For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. “
Once the New Testament church began in Acts 2, Israel was recognized as a spiritual body, not just a physical nation. Henceforth, the division was not between physical Israelites and Gentiles, but spiritually between converted and unconverted people. This was first accomplished in Cornelius, a physical Gentile, via Peter’s vision (Acts 10). Christ specially trained Saul/Paul, appointing him as apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13).
This transition was not without difficulty as students of Acts and of Paul’s epistles are aware. Life-long prejudice had to be dispelled, even among the apostles! Is there a lesson for us? Can racial hatreds actually be altered—changed to gentle, loving relationships?
Paul had a monumental task on his hands. Israelites had migrated to all nations of the world (Acts 2:5-14). When Paul evangelized in Gentile areas, he encountered Israelites and Gentiles whom God was converting, and racial prejudice boiled over. In Romans, he carefully explains to the Israelites that the Gentiles are now candidates for both inclusion into spiritual Israel and salvation. He also warns the Gentiles not to be too full of themselves or “high-minded,” for the “Jew” still had an advantage, having been given the oracles of God (Romans 3:2) and being the natural branch (11:13-26). Nevertheless, ALL had sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Rather than being thankful to be included in salvation, everyone argued over physical superiority. Sounds like today!
Paul viewed spiritual Israel as one spiritual people, no matter what their physical ethnicity.
