No Difference Between Jew and Gentile

 By Stan Feldsine - www.tojesusbeallglory.com

Introduction

In Covenant Theology (CT) and Hebrew Roots Movement (HRM) circles, the use of several passages regarding the concept that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile is used in an attempt to prove that an identity change takes place when someone is born again. The newly born again person is incorrectly said to become a "true Jew" (Rom 2:29). The addressees of this passage however are the Jewish people who are relying on the law (Rom 2:17), and not all of humanity, and "true Jews" in this context are believing Jewish people.

The Content of No Difference

We will look at several other passages that tell us there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, as well, and will will look at the context. These are Rom 3:22-23, Rom 10:12, Col 3:11, 1Co 12:13, and Gal 3:28).

Romans 3:22-23

In Rom 3:22-23, the specific difference being addressed would be whether "righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ" and whether "all of sinned and fall short of the Glory of God". Specifically, with regards to righteousness through Christ and the sin nature of both Gentiles and Jews, there is no difference. This passage is not claiming that Gentiles become Israel and so there is no difference between them with regards to their ethnic identity.

Rom 3:22-23 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 10:12

The same is true in Rom 10:12. Specifically, "the same Lord is Lord of All and richly blesses all who call on Him" is in view here. There is no difference in the Lord of the Gentiles versus the Lord of Israel, it is the same Lord, and in that respect, there is no difference between Gentiles and Jews. Again, this is not a passage speaking about ethnic identity.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

Colossians 3:11

In Col 3:11, the commonality is with respect to our relationship to Christ. To both Gentiles and Jews, "Christ is all, and in all", and there is no difference in His relationship to with them. Again, this is not a passage with respect to the ethnic identity of Jews and Gentiles.

Col 3:11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

1Corinthians 12:13

In 1Co 12:13, the commonality in view here is the one Spirit. Whether Jews or Gentiles, "we are all baptized by the one Spirit".

1Co 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Galatians 3:28

In Gal 3:28, the commonality in view is whether we are "one in Christ". Gentiles and Jews together are one in Christ.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

These passages speaking about the difference between Jew and Gentile are not speaking about commonality of identity, but of experience. There is no difference in the experience that Jew and Gentile have with Jesus, the experience is the same, however, we experience Jesus as Jews and as Gentiles.

No Male nor Female as an Illustration of No Jew nor Gentile

The foolishness of using these "no Jew nor Gentile" passages to attempt to prove the identity change of those born again into "true Jews" is clearly seen in Gal 3:28, when Paul declares that as there is no Jew nor Gentile, and there is no male nor female.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The first thing to note in this passage is that the point is not identity change, but that we are all one in Christ Jesus with respect to spiritual blessings. No identity change is mentioned, nor is it needed or required for us all, Jew and Gentile, to be in Christ.

If there is an identity change where we are no longer Gentiles but are now "true Jews", then what becomes our identity with regards to the illustration Paul uses of no longer being male nor female?

If the "no male or female" illustration is to be consistent with the "no Jew or Gentile" illustration, then an identity change from Gentile to "true Jew" would also result in an identity change from male to "true female". This sounds absurd, and it is, but that is result of interpreting these passage such that our identity changes when we are born again. The analogy being used to support identity change breaks down.

The confusion that results from trying to fit the "no male nor female" construct into a context of identity change is significant. Clearly there are still males and females physically and spiritually. If there are still males and females then there are still Jews and Gentiles. If this is not true then Paul is nothing more than a confused person that cannot come up with appropriate analogies to illustrate what he is saying.

Of course, the Word is infallible and inspired, so Paul is not mistaken in his use of the male nor female construct to describe what he means by saying there is no Jew nor Gentile. The only conclusion that makes sense is that Paul is not talking about identity change at all, he is speaking about the common spiritual blessings that Jews and Gentiles share while retaining their identities as Jews and Gentiles.

Conclusion

The fact of the matter is that if Jews and Gentiles experience an identity change, and males and females do not, then Paul was deeply in error injecting the no male nor female construct into this argument, and so it is with CT and HRM when they do so.