Gentiles Can Be Joined To Israel

Note that as believers, Gentiles can be joined to Israel:

"At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise... Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints" (Ephesians 2:12, 19).

"Some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).

"Ye have heard of the dispensation... That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:2, 6).

"In the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ" (Ephesians 1:10).

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:16, 29).

"They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham... they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" (Galatians 3:7, 9).

"The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed" (Galatians 3:8).

"To the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all" (Romans 4:16).

"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" (Romans 9:8).

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Replacement Theology?

I don't believe that the Bible says believing Gentiles have replaced the Jews, because even though unbelieving Jews have been cut off from spiritual Israel:

"Because of unbelief they were broken off" (Romans 11:20).

"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" (Romans 9:8).

And believing Gentiles have been grafted into spiritual Israel (Romans 11:17; Ephesians 2:12-19, Galatians 3:7-29; John 11:52), any Jew broken off from spiritual Israel can be grafted in again:

"They also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graff them in again" (Romans 11:23).

And Jewish Christians are members of both the church and physical Israel:

"For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin" (Romans 11:1).

"I am verily a man which am a Jew" (Acts 22:3).

"Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I" (2 Corinthians 11:22).

I feel the real replacement theology may possibly be dispensationalism, in that it replaces some Christians being in "the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18) with their inheriting some land.

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Old Covenant Included Gentiles

Note that even under the Old Covenant, Gentiles could be joined to Israel:

"When a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land" (Exodus 12:48).

"The stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you" (Leviticus 19:34).

"And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land" (Numbers 9:14).

"And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do. One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you" (Numbers 15:14-16).

"Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16).

"Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name" (1 Kings 8:43).

"The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people" (Isaiah 56:6-7).

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New Covenant Includes Gentiles

Note that the new covenant (new testament) is the salvation of all believers: "This is my blood of the new testament [diatheke], which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28), no matter whether they are Gentile believers or Israelite believers, for "this cup is the new testament [diatheke] in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:25); "I will make a new covenant [diatheke] with the house of Israel" (Hebrews 8:8); "Jesus the mediator of the new covenant [diatheke], and to the blood of sprinkling" (Hebrews 12:24).

Note that in Matthew 26:28 Jesus refers specifically to "the new testament [new covenant]"; he in no way says "this is the blood of all testaments [all covenants]."

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them" (Jeremiah 31:34); "Ye need not that any man teach you" (1 John 2:27); "I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning... I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father" (1 John 2:13).

Note that "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20) is different than "saying, Know the LORD" (Jeremiah 31:34).

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The Millennium

Note that the church will rule on the earth during the millennium:

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 2:26, 27, 29).

"We shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10).

"They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4).

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

Note that the church will rule in the flesh on the earth in the millennial kingdom (Revelation 2:26-29; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4; Matthew 5:5), because, like Jesus, we will still be in the flesh even after our resurrection: "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39).

Revelation 5:9-10 is referring to the same saints made kings and priests as Revelation 1:5-6, that is, the church, redeemed by the blood of Christ from every nation:

"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father" (Revelation 1:5-6).

"Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10).

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People Saved In The Millennium?

I believe Christians saved in the millennium will be in the church, the body of Christ, and the bride, for the body of a bride can grow larger after her marriage.

Some say they won�t be in the church because they missed receiving their crowns and rewards at the bema seat judgment of Christ. But how would that make them not part of the church? Couldn't they get theirs at the white throne judgment?

Some say they won�t be in the church because they missed the rapture. But I believe all believers who are alive at the 2nd coming will be raptured. Those born after the rapture who become believers will still be in the church.

I think we believers will go to the nations and tell them about Jesus in Jerusalem, whom they will not be able to see until they come to Jerusalem: "I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 66:19-21).

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The Millennial Law

Note that no verse says the Mosaic Covenant will be restored in the millennial kingdom; the practices outlined in Zechariah 14 and Ezekiel 40-48 aren't the Mosaic law. The Mosaic covenant has been disannulled: "There is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof" (Hebrews 7:18), and no believer can ever think they are justified by the Mosaic law in any way without their falling from grace, for "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4).

While technically there will be no need (Hebrews 10:18) for the animal sacrifices we will perform in the millennial temple (Zechariah 14:21; Ezekiel 46:24; Ezekiel 40:41-42; Ezekiel 44:11), note that we currently still keep communion, a symbolic re-showing of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross: "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death" (1 Corinthians 11:26). I believe the millennial sacrifices will also be a symbolic re-showing of the Lord's death, for I believe we will only keep communion until the 2nd coming: "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Some believe the church can't be subject to the millennial feasts, ceremonies and laws without ceasing to be the church. But the church is not defined by the feasts, ceremonies and laws that it keeps but by the person who is at its head (Colossians 1:18). Just as after Christ's coming and our resurrection we will no longer be keeping the feast of communion (1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 11:26) or the ceremony of marriage (Luke 20:35), yet will still be the church, so at that time we can begin keeping Ezekiel 40-48 (which is not the Mosaic law) and still be the church. Similarly, just as we Christians currently obey the diverse laws of our different countries, yet remain the church, so during the millennium we can all obey the laws which will proceed from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3), and still be the church.

It's true that a Passover feast is referred to in both Ezekiel 45 and Leviticus 23, but does this require Ezekiel 40-48 be the Mosaic law? Is every ordinance in Ezekiel 40-48 in the Mosaic law? Would this also be a reference to our keeping of the Mosaic law: "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)?

I believe the millennial sacrifices will "make reconciliation" (Ezekiel 45:17) only insofar as the wine of communion is "for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28), that is, in the same way that we symbolically re-show Christ's "passover sacrifice" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8) during communion: "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death" (1 Corinthians 11:26), so, during the millennium, Jesus, "the prince" of Ezekiel 45:17, could make the sacrifices and give them to believers to eat, just as he broke the bread and gave it and the wine to the disciples: "Take, eat: this is my body... this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26, 28).

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The Land

Isn't the land promise to Abraham for all those in Christ? "I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land" (Genesis 17:8); "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:16, 29); "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations" (Romans 4:13-17).

So won't the land of Israel be divided among both Jews and Gentiles in the millennium? "So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 47:21-23).

"Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee" (Zechariah 2:11).

"Some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).

PROMISE TO PHYSICAL SEED ONLY?

Note that the Apostle Paul doesn't distinguish between a spiritual and a physical seed when he interprets Genesis 17:8 in Galatians 3:16, 29, because nobody, Jew or Gentile, can ever come to the Father or inherit the land blessing to Abraham apart from faith in Christ, for "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6); "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" (Romans 9:8); "They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham... they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" (Galatians 3:7, 9). Therefore only Christians, Jew and Gentile, will inherit the land in the millennium (Ezekiel 47:21-23), and if they are all Christians then they are all in the body, "for there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6). This is why Paul expressly says that Gentile Christians are no longer strangers and foreigners in the commonwealth of Israel, but fellowcitizens with Jewish believers: "At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise... Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints" (Ephesians 2:12, 19); "Some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).

PROMISE OF SALVATION ONLY?

Note that the promise of salvation and the promise of the land are not mutually exclusive, for all Christians, Jewish or Gentile, are heirs to the promises given to Abraham and his seed: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs" (Galatians 3:16, 29). This is why Paul expressly says that Gentile Christians are no longer strangers and foreigners in the commonwealth of Israel, but fellowcitizens with Jewish believers: "At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise... Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints" (Ephesians 2:12, 19); "Some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).

PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT ONLY?

Note that the promise of the Spirit and the promise of the land are not mutually exclusive, for all Christians, Jew or Gentile, are heirs to the promises given to Abraham and his seed: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs" (Galatians 3:16, 29). Note that nobody, Jew or Gentile, can ever come to the Father or receive the Spirit or inherit the land apart from faith in Christ, for "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6); "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" (Romans 9:8); "They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham... they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" (Galatians 3:7, 9). And all those with faith in Christ, whether they are Jew or Gentile, must subsequently receive the Spirit, for "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9); "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2). So then only those baptized with the Spirit, Jew and Gentile, will inherit the land in the millennium (Ezekiel 47:21-23), and if they have the Spirit then they are in the body, "for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13). This is why Paul expressly says that Gentile Christians are no longer strangers and foreigners in the commonwealth of Israel, but fellowcitizens with Jewish believers: "At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise... Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints" (Ephesians 2:12, 19); "Some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).

LAND OF OUR FOREFATHER

I expect to be returned to the land of my forefather Abraham, for I am "of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all" (Romans 4:16); "They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham... they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" (Galatians 3:7, 9); "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed" (Galatians 3:29).

LAND OF THE 12 TRIBES

When a Gentile believer is grafted into spiritual Israel (Romans 11:17; Ephesians 2:12-19, Galatians 3:7-29; John 11:52), couldn't he or she be joined to any one of the 12 tribes, so that he or she will inherit a portion of the land of that particular tribe in the millennium (Ezekiel 47:21-23), for isn't the land promise to Abraham for all those in Christ (Genesis 17:8; Galatians 3:16, 29)?

Is reigning over the 12 tribes and being members of the 12 tribes mutually exclusive? Won't the 12 apostles reign over the 12 tribes (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30) while being members of both the church and the 12 tribes, just as the Apostle Paul is a member of both the church and the tribe of Benjamin: "For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin" (Romans 11:1), and the Apostle Barnabas is both a member of the church and "a Levite" (Acts 4:36)?

PROMISE TO ISAAC AND JACOB ONLY?

Note that Deuteronomy 1:8 in no way annuls the prior promise to the single seed of Abraham, which is Christ: "I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land" (Genesis 17:8); "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:16, 29).

SAINTS DON'T "NEED" THE LAND?

I don't believe it is a question of whether or not the saints "need" to inherit the land of Israel, for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all lived fine, long lives without yet inheriting the land of Israel, just as you and I are able to live now without yet inheriting the land of Israel, but God still chooses to give the land of Israel in the future to Abraham and to all of his seed, all those who are Christ's: "I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land" (Genesis 17:8); "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ... And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:16, 29).

ON FOREIGN ASSIGNMENT = NO LAND INHERITANCE?

Note that the fact that the saints may be assigned to rule in different places throughout the world during the millennium is in no way mutually exclusive with their also inheriting the land of Israel, just as today people can be assigned by their companies to work in another country while still inheriting land in their home country, land which they can visit from time to time and/or return to live for any extended periods between foreign work assignments.

INHERITING NEW JERUSALEM ALSO

How is our inheriting the heavenly Jerusalem mutually exclusive with our living on the land during the millennium? Can't believing Jews and Gentiles live together on the land during the millennium (Ezekiel 47:21-23) and then live together in New Jerusalem after the millennium? Won't "that great city, the holy Jerusalem" include "the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (Revelation 21:10, 12)?

PASTORAL MILLENNIUM

I think in the millennium we could go back to how it was when Jesus first came -- go back to that level of technology. We may live very pastoral lives (Isaiah 32:14-20; Isaiah 30:23-25; Micah 4:4).

Note that nothing is promised TO the multitudinous seed of Genesis 15:5.

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The Circumcision

Note that the Apostle Paul explains that physical circumcision served only as a sign of the faith by which all believers will inherit the promises given to Abraham: "He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised... And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith... To the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all" (Romans 4:11-13, 16).

This is why the Apostle Paul emphasizes so strongly that "He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter" (Romans 2:28-29).

"Ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Colossians 2:11).

"We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).

Note that the Apostle Paul's declaring himself a physically circumcised Israelite in no way separates him or any other physically circumcised Israelite believer from the church: "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5), but his declaration even proves that circumcised Israelite believers are in the church.

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The Chosen People

Note that all believers, Jewish and Gentile, are the chosen people, for "God hath from the beginning chosen you" (2 Thessalonians 2:13); "he hath chosen us" (Ephesians 1:4); "they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).

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The Priesthood

Note that Gentile believers have been joined to the priesthood of Israel:

"Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel" (Exodus 19:6).

"Ye are... a royal priesthood, an holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9).

"The priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Hebrews 7:12).

"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father" (Revelation 1:5-6).

"Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests" (Revelation 5:9-10).

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One Fold

Note that the two folds of believing Jews and Gentiles have already been made into one fold, one body, in Christ, "for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles... and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13), for "ye have heard of the dispensation... That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:2, 6), "for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16), for "it is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6); "Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" (John 11:52); "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16), "one body, and... one Lord" (Ephesians 4:4-5).

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Commonwealth

Note that according to Strong's, the Greek word translated "commonwealth" in Ephesians 2:12 literally means "citizenship," so that the analogy would not be an Australian citizen being in the Commonwealth of Great Britain yet remaining a foreigner and non-citizen of Great Britain, but rather the analogy would be someone coming to America from another country and gaining "citizenship" in America and so becoming an American. This is why Paul says that Gentile Christians can no longer be called "foreigners, but fellowcitizens" (Ephesians 2:12, 19) with Jewish Christians, having been joined with them analogously into "one new man" (Ephesians 2:15), "one body" (Ephesians 2:16), one "building" (Ephesians 2:20-21), one "temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21-22).

Gentiles don't become Jews when they become believers, just as naturalized citizens of America don't become born citizens of America and branches grafted into the olive tree of Israel don't become branches that originally grew out of the olive tree (Revelation 11:17), but Gentile believers are still fully members of Israel, just as naturalized citizens of America are still fully members of America and grafted-in branches are still fully members of the olive tree, for they "partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).

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