📖 The Gospel of Grace — Israel Revealed: Distinguishing the Fleshly Nation from the Sons of Promise in Christ
✍️ Gospel of Grace: AUTHOR
By Carl Timothy Wray
Carl Timothy Wray is a prolific author and teacher dedicated to unveiling the full counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. Through hundreds of published works, he focuses on revealing the finished work of Christ, the plan of the ages, and the transition from shadow to substance in the New Covenant.
His writings emphasize the harmony of Scripture, the identity of the sons of God, and the unfolding revelation of Jesus Christ as the center of all things. With a strong commitment to truth without compromise, Carl’s work equips readers to move beyond partial understanding into the fullness of Christ, where law gives way to grace, shadow gives way to reality, and natural understanding gives way to spiritual revelation.
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This book, The Gospel of Grace — Israel Revealed: Natural Lineage vs Spiritual Sonship, unveils the true biblical meaning of Israel through the lens of the New Covenant and the finished work of Christ. Many today misunderstand Israel as merely a natural nation, but Scripture reveals a deeper truth — that true Israel is defined not by flesh, but by promise, not by bloodline, but by spiritual birth in Christ. By tracing the thread from Abraham to the apostles, this book clarifies the distinction between natural Israel and spiritual Israel, explaining key passages like Romans 9, Galatians 3, Ephesians 2, and Romans 11. This powerful teaching will help readers understand the identity of the Israel of God, the one new man in Christ, and the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose in bringing all things together in Him.
🔥 INTRODUCTION —
There is perhaps no word in Scripture more discussed, more debated, and more misunderstood in this hour than the word Israel.
Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or listen to modern teaching, and you will hear Israel spoken of almost exclusively as a natural nation — a people defined by geography, ancestry, and political events. Entire doctrines have been built around this understanding. Entire prophetic systems have been constructed upon it. And yet, for all the noise, one question remains largely unanswered:
What does the New Covenant actually reveal Israel to be?
Is Israel merely a natural lineage — or is it something deeper?
Is it confined to a nation — or fulfilled in a people?
Is it rooted in the flesh — or brought forth in the Spirit?
The confusion does not come because Scripture is unclear.
The confusion comes because the Scriptures have not been read through their fulfillment in Christ.
For from the beginning, Israel was never meant to be understood as an end in itself —
it was a vessel, a pattern, a shadow pointing toward something greater.
Abraham was given a promise — not of many seeds, but of one Seed.
The Law was established — not as the final expression, but as a tutor.
The prophets spoke — not of preservation alone, but of transformation.
And when Christ came, He did not simply continue the story —
He fulfilled it.
This book is written to bring clarity where there has been mixture.
Not to dismiss natural Israel — but to place it in its proper role within the plan of God.
Not to create division — but to reveal the unity that is found in Christ.
Not to argue doctrine — but to unveil truth through the full counsel of Scripture.
For the New Covenant does not leave us guessing.
It declares:
- that not all Israel is Israel
- that circumcision is inward, not outward
- that there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ
- and that God has made one new man, bringing all into Himself
This is the mystery that was hidden — but is now revealed.
That Israel, as defined in its fullness, is not merely a nation according to the flesh…
but a people brought forth by the Spirit, born of God, and formed in Christ.
In the pages that follow, we will walk this thread from Genesis to Revelation —
from Abraham to the apostles — from shadow to substance —
until the question is no longer debated, but seen clearly:
Who is Israel, according to God?
And when that answer is seen…
Everything changes.
Chapter 1 — What Is Israel? (Definition vs Assumption)
Israel is one of the most used words in all of Scripture, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood.
For many, Israel is immediately defined as a natural nation — a people group tied to land, lineage, and history. This assumption has shaped doctrine, theology, and prophetic interpretation across generations. But Scripture does not leave the definition of Israel to assumption. It reveals it.
The first step in understanding Israel is not to begin with modern headlines or inherited ideas, but to return to the origin of the word itself.
Israel: A Name Given by God
The name Israel did not begin as a nation. It began as a man.
📖 Genesis 32:28
“And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
Israel is a name given by God to Jacob after a divine encounter. It represents a transformation — from one identity into another. This is critical, because from the very beginning, Israel is not merely a natural designation, but a name tied to a work of God within a man.
Before Israel became a people, it was first a person whose identity was changed by God.
Israel: Called God’s Son
As the Scriptures unfold, the name Israel expands from a man to a people. Yet even then, God defines Israel in relational terms — not merely biological ones.
📖 Exodus 4:22
“And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn.”
Israel is called God’s son.
This introduces something deeper than nationality. Sonship is not merely about physical descent — it is about relationship, identity, and origin. Even in the Old Covenant, God is pointing beyond ethnicity to something relational and spiritual in nature.
The Assumption That Must Be Challenged
By the time we reach the New Testament, a major assumption had taken hold: that Israel, by definition, was simply those who were descended from Abraham according to the flesh.
But the Spirit directly challenges this assumption.
📖 Romans 9:6
“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”
This statement creates a division that cannot be ignored.
There is:
- an Israel according to the flesh
- and an Israel defined by something deeper
Not all who are called Israel outwardly are Israel in the way God ultimately defines it.
An Israelite Indeed
Jesus Himself confirms this distinction.
📖 John 1:47
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!”
Jesus does not simply call Nathanael an Israelite — He calls him an Israelite indeed.
This implies that there is a difference between:
- being called Israel outwardly
- and being Israel in truth
The definition is beginning to shift from external identity to inward reality.
Known by God
God’s relationship with Israel has always been rooted in His knowledge of them — not merely their existence as a nation.
📖 Amos 3:2
“You only have I known of all the families of the earth…”
This word “known” speaks of relationship, intimacy, and covenant — not just recognition.
Israel, in its truest sense, is a people known by God in a way that goes beyond natural classification.
The Foundation for Understanding
At this point, the Scriptures have already established several key truths:
- Israel began as a name given through transformation
- Israel was called God’s son, pointing to relationship
- Not all who are outwardly Israel are truly Israel
- There is a distinction between appearance and reality
This means that Israel cannot be fully understood by:
- genealogy alone
- geography alone
- or outward identification alone
The definition must be allowed to develop through the full counsel of Scripture.
Where This Is Leading
The question is no longer:
“Who is Israel according to tradition?”
The question becomes:
“Who is Israel according to God?”
As we move forward, the Scriptures will begin to narrow the definition, not broaden it — bringing us from many assumptions into one clear revelation.
From Abraham to Christ…
From the flesh to the promise…
From the natural to the spiritual…
The identity of Israel will not remain in shadow.
It will be revealed.
Chapter 2 — Abraham and the Promise of the Seed
Understanding Israel requires going back to the beginning — not to a nation, but to a promise.
Before there was a people called Israel…
Before there was a law…
Before there was a land…
There was a man named Abraham, and a word spoken by God.
The Call of Abraham
📖 Genesis 12:1–3
“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house… And I will make of thee a great nation… and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
The promise given to Abraham was never limited to a single nation.
From the very beginning, it carried a global intention:
👉 “all families of the earth”
This is the first signal that what begins with Abraham is not meant to end with natural Israel.
The Promise Counted by Faith
📖 Genesis 15:5–6
“And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars… so shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
The promise was connected to seed, and Abraham’s response was faith.
This is critical:
- The promise was not earned
- It was not established by law
- It was received by faith
Before Israel existed as a nation, righteousness was already being defined apart from works.
An Everlasting Covenant
📖 Genesis 17:7–8
“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee… for an everlasting covenant…”
The covenant was established with Abraham and his seed.
But the question must be asked:
👉 Who is the seed?
Because the answer to that question defines everything that follows.
Not Many Seeds, But One
The New Testament removes all ambiguity.
📖 Galatians 3:16
“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one… which is Christ.”
This is one of the most important verses in understanding Israel.
The promise was not ultimately to:
- many seeds
- multiple natural descendants
But to:
👉 one seed — Christ
This shifts the entire foundation.
Israel, as it unfolds, must be understood in relation to Christ — not merely Abraham’s natural lineage.
Heir of the World — Not Through the Law
📖 Romans 4:13
“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.”
The scope of the promise expands even further:
👉 “heir of the world”
This was never about a small strip of land.
It was always about something far greater:
- inheritance beyond geography
- righteousness beyond law
- fulfillment through faith
Looking for a City
📖 Hebrews 11:9–10
“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise… For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Even Abraham himself understood that the promise pointed beyond the natural.
Though he walked in the land, he was looking for something greater:
👉 a city built by God
This reveals that the promise was never confined to earthly territory — it pointed to a divine reality.
The Foundation Established
From Abraham, several truths are now clear:
- The promise began before the Law
- The promise was received by faith
- The promise was centered in one Seed — Christ
- The promise extended beyond one nation to all families of the earth
- The inheritance was greater than land — it was rooted in a heavenly reality
This means that Israel cannot be understood apart from:
👉 the promise
👉 the seed
👉 and the fulfillment in Christ
Where This Is Leading
If the promise is to one Seed…
and that Seed is Christ…
Then the defining question becomes:
Who is in the Seed?
Because whoever is found in the Seed…
is found in the promise.
And as the Scriptures continue, the line between natural descent and spiritual inheritance will become clearer.
Israel is not being expanded outward…
It is being defined inward.
And that definition is leading somewhere very specific:
👉 not to a nation only
👉 but to a people formed in Christ
The seed has been identified.
Now the story begins to unfold.
Chapter 3 — The Law and the Natural Nation
After Abraham, the promise did not immediately move into fulfillment. Instead, something was introduced that would shape an entire nation and define a people outwardly — the Law.
To understand Israel correctly, this stage cannot be skipped.
Because what was established through Moses formed natural Israel as a visible nation, but it was never the final expression of God’s plan.
A Nation Formed at Sinai
📖 Exodus 19:5–6
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people… And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”
Here, Israel becomes a nation under covenant.
They are:
- set apart
- given laws
- established as a visible people in the earth
This is where Israel takes on a national identity — structured, organized, and governed by divine commandments.
But notice the condition:
👉 “If ye will obey…”
This covenant was based on obedience, not promise alone.
Chosen Among the Nations
📖 Deuteronomy 7:6–8
“For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God… The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number… but because the Lord loved you…”
Israel was chosen — not because of greatness, but because of God’s purpose.
Their role was unique:
👉 to be a people through whom God would reveal Himself
But this choosing was not the end goal — it was part of a larger unfolding plan.
The Purpose of the Law
The Law was not given to perfect man — it was given to expose man.
📖 Romans 3:19–20
“By the law is the knowledge of sin.”
📖 Galatians 3:19
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions…”
The Law served a purpose:
- to reveal sin
- to define transgression
- to show man his inability to attain righteousness on his own
It did not produce life — it exposed the need for life.
A Shadow of Something Greater
📖 Hebrews 8:5
“Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things…”
📖 Colossians 2:16–17
“…which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
Everything established under the Law:
- sacrifices
- priesthood
- feasts
- ordinances
was a shadow.
A shadow is not the substance — it points to it.
This means natural Israel, as formed under the Law, was part of a system designed to:
👉 point forward
👉 foreshadow
👉 prepare the way
The Limitation of the Law
Though Israel had the Law, it did not produce righteousness within them.
📖 Romans 8:3
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh…”
The Law could:
- command
- instruct
- reveal
But it could not:
- transform
- give life
- produce righteousness internally
This is a critical distinction.
Natural Israel had:
👉 the Law outwardly
But lacked:
👉 the life inwardly
The Nation vs The Promise
At this stage, a tension begins to form:
- Abraham received a promise by faith
- Israel received a law by works
The two are not the same.
The promise pointed forward to fulfillment.
The Law held things in place until that fulfillment came.
Where This Is Leading
Natural Israel, formed under the Law, was real — but it was not final.
It was:
- a nation in the earth
- a system of shadows
- a people under instruction
But everything about it was pointing beyond itself.
The sacrifices pointed to a greater sacrifice.
The priesthood pointed to a greater priest.
The covenant pointed to a better covenant.
And the nation itself…
👉 pointed to a greater definition of Israel yet to be revealed.
The Law established the pattern.
But it could not produce the reality.
That reality would come through fulfillment — not continuation.
And as the prophets begin to speak, the picture becomes clearer:
👉 something new is coming
👉 something inward
👉 something that will go beyond the limitations of the natural nation
The shadow has been established.
Now the promise begins to speak again.
Chapter 4 — The Prophets and the Coming Fulfillment
After the Law established Israel as a natural nation, the prophets began to speak.
They did not speak to maintain what was —
they spoke of what was coming.
Their voices carried a consistent message:
👉 what exists is not the end
👉 something greater is ahead
The prophets began to point beyond the natural nation, beyond the Law, and beyond outward identity — toward a transformation that would redefine everything.
A Light Beyond Israel
📖 Isaiah 49:6
“And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob… I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”
This is a turning point.
The purpose of Israel was never meant to stop with Israel.
👉 “a light to the Gentiles”
👉 “salvation unto the end of the earth”
The scope expands beyond one nation into all people.
A New Covenant Promised
📖 Jeremiah 31:31–33
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant… Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers… But this shall be the covenant… I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts…”
This is one of the clearest prophetic declarations in all of Scripture.
The New Covenant would not be:
- external
- written on stone
- dependent on outward obedience
It would be:
👉 inward
👉 written on the heart
👉 produced by God Himself
This alone begins to redefine what it means to belong to God’s people.
A New Heart and a New Spirit
📖 Ezekiel 36:26–27
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you… And I will put my spirit within you…”
The prophets declare that transformation will not come from the outside in…
👉 but from the inside out.
This is not behavior modification —
this is identity transformation.
What the Law could not produce, God Himself would create within man.
Not My People — Now My People
📖 Hosea 1:9–10
“…for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God… And it shall come to pass… it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”
This prophecy breaks natural boundaries.
Those who were:
👉 “not my people”
become:
👉 “sons of the living God”
This cannot be explained by natural lineage.
It points to a people brought in by something greater than birth according to the flesh.
The Spirit Poured on All Flesh
📖 Joel 2:28
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh…”
The Spirit is no longer limited to:
- prophets
- kings
- specific individuals
It is poured out broadly.
👉 “all flesh”
This signals the removal of restriction and the expansion of access.
The Tabernacle Raised Again
📖 Amos 9:11–12
“In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen… That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen…”
This prophecy reveals restoration — but not just of a structure.
It points to:
👉 a people
👉 a kingdom
👉 a reach that includes “all the heathen”
Again, the boundaries of Israel are being expanded beyond natural definition.
The Prophetic Pattern
Through the prophets, a consistent pattern emerges:
- The covenant will become inward
- The heart will be transformed
- The Spirit will be given
- The people of God will expand beyond natural Israel
- Sonship will define identity
- The reach will extend to all nations
This is no longer about preserving a nation as it is.
👉 It is about transforming the definition of God’s people entirely.
Where This Is Leading
The prophets did not contradict the Law —
they pointed beyond it.
They did not reject Israel —
they revealed what Israel was always meant to become.
Everything they spoke was moving toward fulfillment.
Not:
- an improved version of the old
- not a strengthened natural system
But:
👉 something new
👉 something inward
👉 something formed by the Spirit
And when that fulfillment comes, it will not simply continue Israel as it was…
👉 it will reveal Israel as it was always intended to be.
The voice of the prophets has spoken.
Now the fulfillment must come.
Chapter 5 — Christ: The True Seed of Israel
All that was spoken to Abraham…
All that was established under the Law…
All that the prophets declared…
Finds its fulfillment in one person:
👉 Jesus Christ
He does not continue the story as it was —
He fulfills it, completes it, and brings it into its true meaning.
Called Out of Egypt
📖 Matthew 2:15
“…Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
This statement connects Jesus directly to Israel’s history.
What was spoken of Israel in the Old Testament is now fulfilled in Christ.
👉 Israel was called God’s son
👉 Now Christ is revealed as the Son
This shows that Jesus is not separate from Israel’s identity —
He is the fulfillment of it.
The True Vine
📖 John 15:1
“I am the true vine…”
This statement is direct and unmistakable.
If Christ is the true vine, then everything before Him was:
👉 a type
👉 a shadow
👉 a representation
Israel, as a vine in the Old Testament, pointed forward to Him.
Now the reality has come.
All Promises Fulfilled in Him
📖 2 Corinthians 1:20
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen…”
Every promise given:
- to Abraham
- through the Law
- by the prophets
Finds its fulfillment in Christ.
Not partially.
Not progressively through multiple paths.
👉 Fully in Him.
The Scriptures Speak of Him
📖 Luke 24:27
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Jesus reveals the true meaning of Scripture:
👉 It was always about Him.
From:
- Moses (the Law)
- to the prophets
The entire thread points to Christ as the center.
The Final Word Spoken in the Son
📖 Hebrews 1:1–2
“God… spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”
The progression is clear:
- God spoke through many voices
- in many ways
- across many generations
But now:
👉 He has spoken in one — the Son
Christ is not another step in the process.
He is the culmination.
The Seed Identified
Going back to the promise:
📖 Galatians 3:16
“…to thy seed, which is Christ.”
The seed is no longer a question.
It is not:
- many seeds
- not defined by natural descent
It is:
👉 Christ
This changes everything.
Because now the promise, the covenant, and the identity of Israel must all be understood through Him.
The Shift From Nation to Person
Up to this point, Israel has been seen as:
- a man (Jacob)
- then a nation
- then a people under Law
But now:
👉 Israel is defined in a person — Christ
This is the turning point of the entire Scripture.
The focus is no longer:
- on a nation in the earth
But:
👉 on the Son of God
Where This Is Leading
If Christ is:
- the Seed
- the fulfillment of the promises
- the true vine
- the Son
Then the defining question becomes unavoidable:
What does it mean to be in Christ?
Because if Israel is fulfilled in Him…
Then Israel is no longer defined by:
- natural birth
- outward identity
- or lineage according to the flesh
It must now be defined by:
👉 relationship to Christ
The story has shifted.
From:
- many to one
- shadow to substance
- nation to person
And from this point forward, everything will be built on one foundation:
👉 not who is descended from Abraham
👉 but who is found in Christ
The Seed has been revealed.
Now the question is not about the Seed…
It is about those who are born from it.
Chapter 6 — Born Not of Blood (A New Origin)
With Christ revealed as the Seed, the focus now shifts from who the Seed is…
to who is born from the Seed.
Because identity is no longer determined by:
- natural descent
- genealogy
- or lineage according to the flesh
It is determined by origin.
And the New Covenant introduces a completely new origin.
Not of Blood, Nor of the Will of Man
📖 John 1:12–13
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God… Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
This statement removes every natural qualification.
Not:
- of blood (lineage)
- of the will of the flesh (human effort)
- of the will of man (natural desire)
But:
👉 of God
This is a new birth that cannot be traced through ancestry.
It is entirely divine in origin.
Born Again — A New Beginning
📖 John 3:3–6
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
Jesus establishes a clear distinction:
- flesh produces flesh
- Spirit produces spirit
Natural birth creates natural identity.
Spiritual birth creates spiritual identity.
This is not an addition to the old identity —
it is a new one altogether.
Begotten by the Word of Truth
📖 James 1:18
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth…”
This birth is not accidental.
It is intentional:
👉 “of His own will”
And it is brought forth by:
👉 the word of truth
The source is God.
The means is His word.
The result is a new creation.
Born of Incorruptible Seed
📖 1 Peter 1:23
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God…”
Here the contrast is clear:
- corruptible seed → natural life
- incorruptible seed → spiritual life
Natural Israel traces its lineage through corruptible seed.
Spiritual identity is born through incorruptible seed.
This is a completely different order of life.
Not by Works, But by Renewal
📖 Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
This new birth is not achieved.
It is not earned.
It is:
- given by mercy
- produced by regeneration
- sustained by the Spirit
This removes all boasting and places the entire work in God.
A New Lineage
At this point, lineage itself is redefined.
No longer:
- traced through Abraham according to the flesh
But:
👉 traced through Christ according to the Spirit
This is not a continuation of the old line —
it is the introduction of a new one.
The Separation Becomes Clear
Now the distinction between natural and spiritual becomes unmistakable:
- Natural Israel → born of blood
- Spiritual identity → born of God
- Natural lineage → through flesh
- Spiritual lineage → through the Spirit
- Corruptible seed → temporary life
- Incorruptible seed → eternal life
This is not a small adjustment.
👉 This is a complete redefinition of identity.
Where This Is Leading
If identity is now based on birth…
and that birth is of God…
Then the question is no longer:
“Who is descended from Abraham?”
The question becomes:
“Who has been born of God?”
Because that birth determines:
- identity
- inheritance
- and belonging
The foundation has now shifted completely.
From:
- flesh to Spirit
- bloodline to divine origin
- natural descent to spiritual birth
And as the Scriptures continue, this truth will press even further:
👉 not all who appear to belong… actually do
👉 and those who truly belong are defined by something unseen
The origin has changed.
Now the definition must follow.
Chapter 7 — Circumcision of the Heart
As the New Covenant unfolds, God begins to redefine not only birth…
but covenant identity itself.
Under the Old Covenant, circumcision was the outward sign of belonging. It marked a man physically as part of Israel. It was visible, external, and tied directly to the flesh.
But the Scriptures begin to reveal that even this sign was never meant to remain outward.
It was pointing to something deeper.
The Sign Given in the Flesh
📖 Genesis 17:10–11
“This is my covenant… Every man child among you shall be circumcised… and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.”
Circumcision was given as a sign of the covenant with Abraham.
It identified a people:
- outwardly
- physically
- visibly
But like many things under the Old Covenant, it was a sign — not the substance.
The First Hint of Something Deeper
Even under the Law, God began pointing beyond the outward act.
📖 Deuteronomy 30:6
“And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart… to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart…”
📖 Jeremiah 4:4
“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart…”
These verses reveal something powerful:
👉 the true issue was never the flesh
👉 it was always the heart
Even in the Old Covenant, God was pointing toward an inward work.
Not Outward, But Inward
The New Testament makes this distinction unmistakable.
📖 Romans 2:28–29
“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly… But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter…”
This is one of the clearest redefining statements in Scripture.
A true Jew — a true covenant identity — is not defined by:
- outward marks
- physical signs
- or fleshly lineage
But by:
👉 an inward work of the Spirit
The True Circumcision
📖 Philippians 3:3
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
This is no longer symbolic.
This is a declaration.
👉 “We are the circumcision”
Not those marked in the flesh —
but those:
- who worship in Spirit
- who rejoice in Christ
- who place no confidence in the flesh
The identity has fully shifted.
A Work Done Without Hands
📖 Colossians 2:11
“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands…”
This circumcision is not performed by man.
It is:
- not physical
- not external
- not temporary
It is:
👉 done by God
👉 within
👉 in Christ
This is the removal of the old nature — not the marking of the body.
The Flesh Removed, The Heart Revealed
Circumcision, in its fulfillment, is not about cutting the flesh outwardly…
👉 it is about removing reliance on the flesh entirely.
It is:
- the cutting away of the old identity
- the ending of confidence in natural lineage
- the unveiling of a new identity formed in the Spirit
The Definition Has Changed
At this point, the definition of belonging to God’s people is no longer external.
It is not:
- a mark in the body
- a heritage in the flesh
- or a tradition passed down
It is:
👉 a work done within
👉 by the Spirit
👉 in the heart
Where This Is Leading
If circumcision — the very sign of the covenant — is now inward…
Then everything tied to that covenant must also be understood inwardly.
This includes:
- identity
- belonging
- and ultimately, Israel itself
The distinction is becoming clear:
- outward vs inward
- flesh vs Spirit
- sign vs reality
And as the Scriptures continue, this truth will press even further:
👉 not all who carry the outward sign belong
👉 and those who truly belong are marked in a way that cannot be seen
The outward has given way to the inward.
Now the separation becomes undeniable.
Chapter 8 — Not All Israel Is Israel
At this point, the foundation has been laid.
- The promise was to one Seed — Christ
- Birth is now of God, not of blood
- Circumcision is inward, not outward
Now the Scriptures bring everything to a sharp and unavoidable statement:
📖 Romans 9:6
“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”
This is not a small clarification.
👉 This is a division.
Two Definitions of Israel
This verse reveals that there are two ways Israel can be understood:
- Israel according to the flesh
- Israel according to God’s definition
Not all who carry the name…
actually carry the reality.
This means that outward identity and inward truth are not the same.
Children of the Flesh vs Children of Promise
📖 Romans 9:7–8
“Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children… 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.”
This clarifies the distinction further.
There are:
- children of the flesh
- and children of promise
And they are not the same.
👉 Natural descent does not equal divine identity.
The defining factor is not birth through Abraham —
it is participation in the promise.
The Pattern of Isaac and Ishmael
📖 Galatians 4:22–23
“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman… but he of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.”
📖 Galatians 4:28
“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.”
This is not just history — it is a pattern.
- Ishmael → born after the flesh
- Isaac → born by promise
Both came from Abraham.
But only one was counted as the seed.
This shows clearly:
👉 origin determines identity
Not All Who Say “Abraham” Belong
Jesus addresses this directly.
📖 John 8:37–39
“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me… If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”
There is a difference between:
- being Abraham’s seed physically
- and being Abraham’s children in truth
Jesus does not deny their natural lineage.
He challenges their identity.
👉 behavior reveals origin
The Promise Defines the People
📖 Romans 4:16
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed…”
The promise is secured not through:
- law
- works
- or flesh
But through:
👉 faith
This ensures that the seed is not limited to natural descent —
but extended to all who are of faith.
The Separation Is Clear
At this point, the distinction cannot be blurred:
- Flesh does not equal promise
- Lineage does not equal identity
- Outward appearance does not equal inward reality
There are those who:
- are of Israel outwardly
- but not counted as Israel in truth
And there are those who:
- are not of Israel outwardly
- yet are counted as the seed through promise
Where This Is Leading
This chapter establishes a necessary division.
Not to create confusion —
but to remove it.
Because until this line is drawn:
👉 everything remains mixed
👉 definitions remain unclear
👉 and identity remains misunderstood
But now the question becomes sharper:
If not all Israel is Israel…
Then who is Israel?
The answer will not be found in the flesh.
It will be found in what God has done in Christ.
And as the Scriptures continue, the next step is not division —
it is unification.
👉 not two separate peoples forever
👉 but something brought together
The separation has been made.
Now the union must be revealed.
Chapter 9 — The One New Man
After the separation has been made…
- not all Israel is Israel
- flesh and promise are not the same
- outward and inward are distinct
Now the Scriptures reveal something powerful:
👉 God is not building two separate peoples
👉 He is creating one
Brought Near by the Blood of Christ
📖 Ephesians 2:13
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
Those who were:
- far off
- outside
- strangers
Are now:
👉 brought near
Not through law.
Not through natural inclusion.
But through Christ.
He Is Our Peace
📖 Ephesians 2:14
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”
This is one of the clearest statements in all of Scripture.
👉 “made both one”
There were two:
- Jew
- Gentile
Now:
👉 one
The wall that divided has been removed.
One New Man Created
📖 Ephesians 2:15–16
“…for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body…”
This is not:
- a merging of two identities
- not a coexistence of two groups
This is:
👉 a new creation
“One new man”
Something that did not exist before.
Fellow Heirs of the Same Promise
📖 Ephesians 3:5–6
“…that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ…”
The Gentiles are not:
- second-class
- separate
- or later additions
They are:
👉 fellow heirs
👉 of the same body
👉 partakers of the same promise
Everything is now shared in Christ.
No Distinction in Christ
📖 Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek… for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
📖 Colossians 3:10–11
“…where there is neither Greek nor Jew… but Christ is all, and in all.”
The distinctions that once defined identity:
- Jew
- Greek
- circumcision
- uncircumcision
Are no longer the basis of identity.
👉 Christ is.
Baptized Into One Body
📖 1 Corinthians 12:13
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles…”
There is:
- one Spirit
- one body
- one identity
This is not theoretical.
This is spiritual reality.
The End of Division
Everything that once separated:
- law
- ordinances
- lineage
- identity markers
Has been removed in Christ.
Not adjusted.
Not improved.
👉 Removed.
The Definition Has Shifted Again
At this point, identity is no longer found in:
- being Jew
- being Gentile
- being near
- being far
It is found in:
👉 being in Christ
This is the defining line of the New Covenant.
Where This Is Leading
If there is:
- one new man
- one body
- one Spirit
Then the idea of two separate peoples of God cannot stand.
The Scriptures are not pointing to:
👉 two parallel identities
They are revealing:
👉 one unified people
This is the fulfillment of everything that came before.
The promise…
The law…
The prophets…
All lead here.
The division has been made.
Now the union has been revealed.
And from this point forward, the question is no longer:
“Who is Jew and who is Gentile?”
The question becomes:
Who is in Christ?
Because in Him…
👉 all distinctions fade
👉 all divisions end
👉 and one new man stands before God
Complete.
Unified.
And defined by Him alone.
Chapter 10 — The Israel of God
After everything that has been revealed…
- the promise to the Seed
- the birth not of blood
- the inward circumcision
- the separation between flesh and promise
- the creation of one new man
The Scriptures now bring us to a defining statement:
👉 Who is Israel, according to God?
A New Creation Defines Identity
📖 Galatians 6:15–16
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
This verse removes all previous identity markers.
Not:
- circumcision
- uncircumcision
- outward distinction
But:
👉 a new creature
And those who walk according to this rule…
👉 are called “the Israel of God.”
The True Circumcision Reaffirmed
📖 Philippians 3:3
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
The definition is consistent.
The true people of God are not identified by:
- flesh
- heritage
- or outward signs
But by:
- worship in the Spirit
- joy in Christ
- no confidence in the flesh
Led by the Spirit — Sons of God
📖 Romans 8:14–17
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God…”
Sonship now defines identity.
Not:
- descent from Abraham according to the flesh
But:
👉 being led by the Spirit
And if sons…
👉 then heirs
This connects directly back to the promise given to Abraham.
Come to Mount Zion
📖 Hebrews 12:22–23
“But ye are come unto mount Sion… to the general assembly and church of the firstborn…”
This is not future language.
👉 “ye are come”
This is present reality.
Zion is not merely a place on earth.
It is:
- a spiritual reality
- a gathering of the firstborn
- a people defined by their relationship with God
Those Who Say They Are — But Are Not
📖 Revelation 2:9
“…I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not…”
This reinforces the same truth seen earlier:
👉 identity can be claimed outwardly
👉 but denied inwardly
Not all who say they are… actually are.
The Israel of God Defined
At this point, the definition is clear:
The Israel of God is not:
- a nation according to the flesh alone
- not defined by land
- not defined by lineage
The Israel of God is:
👉 those who are in Christ
👉 those who are a new creation
👉 those who are born of God
👉 those who walk by the Spirit
The Thread Comes Together
Everything that began with Abraham now connects:
- The promise → fulfilled in Christ
- The seed → identified as Christ
- The inheritance → received by faith
- The people → defined by new birth
This is not a new idea.
👉 This is the fulfillment of what was always intended.
Where This Is Leading
If the Israel of God is now defined in Christ…
Then the final question remains:
How does all of this come together in God’s complete plan?
Because there is still one passage that many struggle to understand:
👉 “All Israel shall be saved”
This statement must now be read in light of everything that has been revealed.
Not through assumption.
Not through tradition.
But through:
- the promise
- the Seed
- the new birth
- the one new man
- and the Israel of God
The definition has been established.
Now the mystery must be unveiled.
Chapter 11 — The Olive Tree (Romans 11 Properly Understood)
With the definition of Israel now established through Christ, one passage remains that must be understood clearly:
📖 Romans 11:26
“And so all Israel shall be saved…”
This statement has been the source of much confusion, because it is often read without the foundation that has already been laid.
But Romans 11 is not introducing a new idea.
👉 It is explaining how everything already revealed comes together.
One Tree — Not Two
📖 Romans 11:17
“And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them…”
The picture is simple, but powerful:
👉 one olive tree
Not two trees.
Not two separate peoples.
One tree with:
- natural branches
- wild branches grafted in
This is not replacement.
👉 It is participation.
The Root Bears All
📖 Romans 11:18
“…thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.”
The root is what supports the entire tree.
This root connects back to:
- the promise to Abraham
- the covenant
- the purpose of God
Everything that lives in the tree draws from the same source.
Branches Broken Off
📖 Romans 11:20
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith…”
The issue is not ethnicity.
👉 It is belief.
Some branches were broken off:
- not because they were not natural
- but because of unbelief
This again confirms:
👉 identity is not secured by lineage
👉 it is connected to faith
Grafted In Among Them
📖 Romans 11:17
“…and thou… wert grafted in among them…”
The Gentiles are not forming a separate tree.
They are:
👉 grafted into the same tree
This creates:
- one source
- one life
- one identity
God Is Able to Graft Them In Again
📖 Romans 11:23
“And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.”
This shows that the door is not closed.
The same condition applies to all:
👉 faith
Not nationality.
Not heritage.
But belief.
Blindness in Part
📖 Romans 11:25
“…blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”
This is not total rejection.
👉 “in part”
There is a purpose unfolding.
A process:
- expansion
- inclusion
- fulfillment
And So All Israel Shall Be Saved
📖 Romans 11:26–27
“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written…”
The key word is:
👉 “so”
This is not a separate plan.
This is the explanation of how it happens.
Through:
- one tree
- one root
- one faith
- one body
👉 “so” all Israel is saved
The Mystery Revealed
Romans 11 is not teaching:
- two separate peoples forever
- a divided plan of God
- or parallel identities
It is revealing:
👉 one people
👉 brought together
👉 through Christ
Natural branches and grafted branches
all drawing from the same root.
The Consistent Thread
This chapter aligns perfectly with everything already revealed:
- Romans 9 → not all Israel is Israel
- Galatians 3 → the Seed is Christ
- Ephesians 2 → one new man
- Galatians 6 → the Israel of God
Romans 11 does not contradict these truths.
👉 It confirms them.
Where This Is Leading
If there is:
- one tree
- one root
- one faith
- one body
Then “all Israel” must be understood within that reality.
Not:
- as a separate natural group alone
But:
👉 as the fullness of God’s people
👉 brought into Christ
👉 through faith
The confusion ends here.
The mystery is not that God has two peoples…
👉 The mystery is that He has made one.
The Final Step
With this now understood, the final question remains:
What does this people become in its fullness?
Because the Scriptures do not end with definition…
👉 they end with revelation
Not just who Israel is…
👉 but what Israel becomes
The tree has been revealed.
Now the city must be seen.
Chapter 12 — Zion: The City of the Living God
After everything that has been revealed…
- the promise to Abraham
- the Seed identified as Christ
- the Law as a shadow
- the prophets pointing forward
- the new birth
- the inward circumcision
- the one new man
- the Israel of God
- the one olive tree
The Scriptures now lift the reader into the final picture:
👉 not just a people…
👉 but a city
Come to Mount Zion
📖 Hebrews 12:22–23
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… to the general assembly and church of the firstborn…”
This is not future.
👉 “ye are come”
This is present reality.
Zion is not merely:
- a physical location
- a mountain in the earth
It is:
👉 a spiritual reality
👉 a heavenly gathering
👉 a people in union with God
Jerusalem Which Is Above
📖 Galatians 4:26
“But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
There are two Jerusalems:
- one below
- one above
The one below is natural.
The one above is spiritual.
And the Scripture declares:
👉 the one above is the mother of us all
This is not a nation defined by geography.
This is a people born from above.
A City Prepared
📖 Revelation 21:2–3
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven… Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men…”
This city is not built by man.
It comes:
👉 from God
👉 out of heaven
And what is revealed?
👉 “the tabernacle of God is with men”
This is not about buildings.
This is about:
👉 God dwelling in a people
Born in Zion
📖 Psalm 87:5–6
“And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her… The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.”
Birth appears again.
But now the location is not earthly.
👉 it is Zion
Identity is tied to where one is born.
And those who belong to this city are:
👉 born in it
The Mountain of the Lord
📖 Isaiah 2:2–3
“…the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established… and all nations shall flow unto it…”
Zion is elevated above all.
And what happens?
👉 all nations flow into it
This is the fulfillment of what was spoken to Abraham:
👉 “all families of the earth”
Now gathered into one.
The Lamb and His People
📖 Revelation 14:1
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand…”
Zion is not empty.
It is occupied by:
- the Lamb
- and His people
This is a people:
👉 marked
👉 identified
👉 standing with Him
The Final Picture
Zion reveals what Israel becomes in its fullness.
Not:
- a nation limited by land
- not a people defined by lineage
- not a system governed by law
But:
👉 a people born of God
👉 gathered in Christ
👉 indwelt by His presence
👉 formed into a living city
The Thread Completed
What began with Abraham…
- as a promise
- pointing to a Seed
Has now become:
👉 a people
👉 in Christ
👉 formed into a city
👉 where God dwells
The shadow has given way to substance.
The pattern has become reality.
God Dwelling With Man
This is the ultimate fulfillment:
👉 not God dwelling among a nation outwardly
👉 but God dwelling within a people inwardly
This is Zion.
The Revelation of Israel
Israel, in its fullness, is no longer a question of:
- geography
- genealogy
- or outward identity
It is the revelation of a people:
👉 born of God
👉 formed in Christ
👉 unified as one
👉 and established as the dwelling place of God
Final Declaration
Israel is not lost.
Israel is revealed.
Not in the flesh…
but in the Spirit
Not in shadow…
but in substance
Not divided…
but made one
Not earthly only…
but heavenly
Call to Action
If this revelation has opened your eyes…
Then the call is clear:
👉 step out of assumption
👉 step out of tradition
👉 and step into the truth revealed in Christ
This is not about choosing a side.
This is about seeing clearly.
The question is no longer:
“Where is Israel?”
The question is:
Are you in Christ?
The Gospel of Grace — Israel Revealed: Natural Lineage vs Spiritual Sonship
By Carl Timothy Wray
The Gospel of Grace Series
- The Gospel of Grace — The Finished Work Proclaimed
- The Gospel of Grace — Philippians 2:12–13 Revealed: The Salvation You Were Told to Work For Is God Working in You
- The Gospel of Grace — Matthew 6:33 Revealed: Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
- The Gospel of Grace — John 15:5 Revealed: Without Me Ye Can Do Nothing