Neither male not female................

[Gideon300]

We are told by Paul that in Christ, there is neither male nor female. (Galatians 3:28). Now this is obviously a spiritual, not a physical state. So it is possible to have a spiritual state that is not matched by the physical. Bear with me, there is a point to this stating of the obvious.

Now some believe that physical Israel has been replaced by spiritual Israel; i.e the Church This is in spite of the assurances of God's word to the contrary. Now if God chooses to leave believers with the physical differences between men and women (and I'm very happy that this is so), why would God be obliged to remove physical Israel to replace it with the spiritual? God's promises are as sure as night follows day:
Jeremiah 31: 35 & 36
"Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name: “Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.""

Last I looked, the sun still rose and the moon still orbited the earth. Israel is indeed a nation and will be until the new heavens and new earth replace what we have now.

The key is "Before me........" The world changed Israel's name to Palestine. God did not change the name. Even though many Jews were dispersed through the world, a remnant stayed in Israel, maintaining the land as belonging to Israel. Israel became a nation in the world's eyes in 1948. It's never been otherwise in God's eyes.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

You're applying a carnal interpretation to that Jeremiah prophecy. The seed of Israel refers to the spiritual seed for these reasons.

Ephraim was the firstborn who inherited all of the promises. The names Ephraim and Israel are used synonymously in scripture.

Jacob prophesied that the seed of Ephraim (Israel) would become a fullness of gentiles.

And his father [Jacob] refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]: he [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a fullness of gentiles. Genesis 48:19​

​

This is obviously not referring to natural seed, but to spiritual seed. Natural Israel was sown in death in 722 BC and then raised out of the dead as a spiritual nation, the holy nation Peter mentions in 1 Peter 2:9, when it was born from above at Pentecost. This is the great multitude, a fullness of gentiles, the prophesied seed of Ephraim (Israel), mentioned in Revelation.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:9​

​

 

[LightBearer316]

We are told by Paul that in Christ, there is neither male nor female. (Galatians 3:28). Now this is obviously a spiritual, not a physical state. So it is possible to have a spiritual state that is not matched by the physical. Bear with me, there is a point to this stating of the obvious.

Now some believe that physical Israel has been replaced by spiritual Israel; i.e the Church This is in spite of the assurances of God's word to the contrary. Now if God chooses to leave believers with the physical differences between men and women (and I'm very happy that this is so), why would God be obliged to remove physical Israel to replace it with the spiritual? God's promises are as sure as night follows day:
Jeremiah 31: 35 & 36
"Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name: “Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.""

Last I looked, the sun still rose and the moon still orbited the earth. Israel is indeed a nation and will be until the new heavens and new earth replace what we have now.

The key is "Before me........" The world changed Israel's name to Palestine. God did not change the name. Even though many Jews were dispersed through the world, a remnant stayed in Israel, maintaining the land as belonging to Israel. Israel became a nation in the world's eyes in 1948. It's never been otherwise in God's eyes.

You make a thoughtful point about Galatians 3:28 being spiritual in nature; Paul is indeed speaking of our equality in Christ regarding salvation, not erasing physical distinctions. However, when we apply that same principle to Israel, Scripture itself draws an important distinction between national Israel (the ethnic descendants of Abraham) and spiritual Israel (those who share Abraham’s faith).

Romans 9:6–8 (KJV) “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, 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.”

Paul says plainly that physical descent alone does not make one part of the covenant family; only those who have faith, like Abraham, do (Galatians 3:7).

Romans 11:17–24 describes believing Gentiles as wild branches grafted into the olive tree (Israel’s covenant blessings). Unbelieving Jews are temporarily cut off, but can be grafted in again if they do not persist in unbelief.
So, Gentile believers don’t replace Israel; rather, both believing Jews and Gentiles together form one people of God (Ephesians 2:14–16).

2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
God’s covenant promises find their fulfillment in the Messiah — the true Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16). All who are in Christ share in those promises, regardless of ethnicity.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…”
Peter applies Old Testament Israel’s covenant titles (Exodus 19:5–6) directly to the Church — believers from every tribe and tongue united in Christ.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 foretells a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah. The New Testament (Hebrews 8:6–13) says this covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The physical nation was the shadow; Christ and His Church are the substance.

God has not “removed” physical Israel — He has fulfilled His promises through Christ, opening covenant membership to all who believe. The remnant of believing Jews remains part of that plan, and one day, “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26).

So, it isn’t about replacement — it’s about fulfillment. The same God who kept His word to Abraham keeps it now through the gospel of Christ, forming one redeemed people — the true Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

Grace and Peace

 

[Doll]

Labels that attach to the flesh. Male,female,Jew,Gentile,Greek.

When His Good News Saves the Soul. Which is none of those things.
Just as we are told about God's identity. God is not a man. God is Holy.God is Spirit.
So too are we,Spirits,Souls,in flesh.
Jesus,Emmanuel,God with us,is,was, the word made flesh.

The Word Saves Souls,not Labels.

 

[Gideon300]

You make a thoughtful point about Galatians 3:28 being spiritual in nature; Paul is indeed speaking of our equality in Christ regarding salvation, not erasing physical distinctions. However, when we apply that same principle to Israel, Scripture itself draws an important distinction between national Israel (the ethnic descendants of Abraham) and spiritual Israel (those who share Abraham’s faith).

Romans 9:6–8 (KJV) “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, 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.”

Paul says plainly that physical descent alone does not make one part of the covenant family; only those who have faith, like Abraham, do (Galatians 3:7).

Romans 11:17–24 describes believing Gentiles as wild branches grafted into the olive tree (Israel’s covenant blessings). Unbelieving Jews are temporarily cut off, but can be grafted in again if they do not persist in unbelief.
So, Gentile believers don’t replace Israel; rather, both believing Jews and Gentiles together form one people of God (Ephesians 2:14–16).

2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
God’s covenant promises find their fulfillment in the Messiah — the true Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16). All who are in Christ share in those promises, regardless of ethnicity.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…”
Peter applies Old Testament Israel’s covenant titles (Exodus 19:5–6) directly to the Church — believers from every tribe and tongue united in Christ.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 foretells a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah. The New Testament (Hebrews 8:6–13) says this covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The physical nation was the shadow; Christ and His Church are the substance.

God has not “removed” physical Israel — He has fulfilled His promises through Christ, opening covenant membership to all who believe. The remnant of believing Jews remains part of that plan, and one day, “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26).

So, it isn’t about replacement — it’s about fulfillment. The same God who kept His word to Abraham keeps it now through the gospel of Christ, forming one redeemed people — the true Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

Grace and Peace

OK, so now every Christian should go and live in the land of Israel. I don't know how we would all fit, but that is God's problem.

You make a thoughtful point about Galatians 3:28 being spiritual in nature; Paul is indeed speaking of our equality in Christ regarding salvation, not erasing physical distinctions. However, when we apply that same principle to Israel, Scripture itself draws an important distinction between national Israel (the ethnic descendants of Abraham) and spiritual Israel (those who share Abraham’s faith).

Romans 9:6–8 (KJV) “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, 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.”

Paul says plainly that physical descent alone does not make one part of the covenant family; only those who have faith, like Abraham, do (Galatians 3:7).

Romans 11:17–24 describes believing Gentiles as wild branches grafted into the olive tree (Israel’s covenant blessings). Unbelieving Jews are temporarily cut off, but can be grafted in again if they do not persist in unbelief.
So, Gentile believers don’t replace Israel; rather, both believing Jews and Gentiles together form one people of God (Ephesians 2:14–16).

2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
God’s covenant promises find their fulfillment in the Messiah — the true Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16). All who are in Christ share in those promises, regardless of ethnicity.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…”
Peter applies Old Testament Israel’s covenant titles (Exodus 19:5–6) directly to the Church — believers from every tribe and tongue united in Christ.

Jeremiah 31:31–34 foretells a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah. The New Testament (Hebrews 8:6–13) says this covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The physical nation was the shadow; Christ and His Church are the substance.

God has not “removed” physical Israel — He has fulfilled His promises through Christ, opening covenant membership to all who believe. The remnant of believing Jews remains part of that plan, and one day, “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26).

So, it isn’t about replacement — it’s about fulfillment. The same God who kept His word to Abraham keeps it now through the gospel of Christ, forming one redeemed people — the true Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

Grace and Peace

And the fulfillment is not complete. Physical Israel must exist in order for God's purpose to be achieved. The next steps include complete peace for Israel and the rebuilding of the temple. Then things will get really interesting.

 

[Gideon300]

You're applying a carnal interpretation to that Jeremiah prophecy. The seed of Israel refers to the spiritual seed for these reasons.

Ephraim was the firstborn who inherited all of the promises. The names Ephraim and Israel are used synonymously in scripture.

Jacob prophesied that the seed of Ephraim (Israel) would become a fullness of gentiles.

And his father [Jacob] refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]: he [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a fullness of gentiles. Genesis 48:19​

​

This is obviously not referring to natural seed, but to spiritual seed. Natural Israel was sown in death in 722 BC and then raised out of the dead as a spiritual nation, the holy nation Peter mentions in 1 Peter 2:9, when it was born from above at Pentecost. This is the great multitude, a fullness of gentiles, the prophesied seed of Ephraim (Israel), mentioned in Revelation.

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; Revelation 7:9​

​

When the sun stops shining and the moon quits orbiting the earth, I will agree with you.

 

[timemeddler]

isn't it talking about favoritism?

 

[rrcn]

We are told by Paul that in Christ, there is neither male nor female. (Galatians 3:28). Now this is obviously a spiritual, not a physical state. So it is possible to have a spiritual state that is not matched by the physical. Bear with me, there is a point to this stating of the obvious.

Now some believe that physical Israel has been replaced by spiritual Israel; i.e the Church This is in spite of the assurances of God's word to the contrary. Now if God chooses to leave believers with the physical differences between men and women (and I'm very happy that this is so), why would God be obliged to remove physical Israel to replace it with the spiritual? God's promises are as sure as night follows day:
Jeremiah 31: 35 & 36
"Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name: “Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.""

Last I looked, the sun still rose and the moon still orbited the earth. Israel is indeed a nation and will be until the new heavens and new earth replace what we have now.

The key is "Before me........" The world changed Israel's name to Palestine. God did not change the name. Even though many Jews were dispersed through the world, a remnant stayed in Israel, maintaining the land as belonging to Israel. Israel became a nation in the world's eyes in 1948. It's never been otherwise in God's eyes.

Jesus touched on this subject:
[Mat 22:29-30 KJV] 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

When the sun stops shining and the moon quits orbiting the earth, I will agree with you.

No you won't because you'll still be looking for a carnal, worldly nation. The holy nation of God has already been born (1 Peter 2:9), but you can"t see it because you are focused on worldly things.

 

[Gideon300]

No you won't because you'll still be looking for a carnal, worldly nation. The holy nation of God has already been born (1 Peter 2:9), but you can"t see it because you are focused on worldly things.

Worldly things like the sun rising and the moon orbiting the earth. Like Israel existing, in accordance with prophecy, in spite the world's opposition. Argue with me, fine. However, your beef is with God, not me. Take it up with Him.

 

[Gideon300]

isn't it talking about favoritism?

Spiritually, everyone is equal before God. In the natural, there are still differences. The physical will be replaced with an immortal, spiritual body one day. I did not intend to get into a discussion about gender.