The words "Jews" and "Israel" are what I call loaded words. What is essential is that we correctly define both terms. The best place I know is from scripture. The Apostle Paul gives us the correct, biblical definition of what it means to be a "Jew" and what it means to be part of "Israel":
Let’s consider the various ways that Paul uses the term, Israel.
In Romans 11, we see at least 4 different ways that Paul uses the word, Israel.
1st - the term can signify the group of ethnic Jews who have true faith in the Lord. In Romans 9:6 the Apostle says, "not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." Here he distinguishes Israel according to the flesh—all ethnic Jews—from Israel according to the promise, which is that subset of ethnic Jews who trust in God and ultimately in Christ.
2nd - Paul uses the term Israel, to refer to the entire corporate nation that is made up of all ethnic Jews, including those who do not trust in the Lord.
3rd - Ethnic Jews who have not placed their faith in Jesus make up the 3rd group that bears the name Israel in Romans 9:11.
4th - Finally, the term Israel can also designate all of those who believe in Jesus, including both ethnic Jews & ethnic Gentiles. For ex., in Gal 6:16, Paul applies the name Israel to the entire believing community—the church—that follows Christ. This meaning is clearly implied in his teaching about the one olive tree with both Jewish & Gentile branches (Romans11:24). The "Israel that failed to obtain what it was seeking" refers to ethnic Jews who have rejected their Messiah, Jesus.
Jew? Here’s Paul’s definition of a “Jew”: Romans 2:28-29 – “For 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; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Matthew 19:28: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” (NIV)
Luke 22:28-30: “You who have followed me will eat at my table and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (NIV)
Acts 1: 6 & 7
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority...
Did you read anything I wrote? So you are going to ignore everything the Apostle Paul had to say about Israel? One of my points was that the word "Israel" is loaded word. It has multiple meanings & means different things to different people. We are under the New Covenant - the Covenant of Jesus Christ.
The words "Jews" and "Israel" are what I call loaded words. What is essential is that we correctly define both terms. The best place I know is from scripture. The Apostle Paul gives us the correct, biblical definition of what it means to be a "Jew" and what it means to be part of "Israel":
Let’s consider the various ways that Paul uses the term, Israel. In Romans 11, we see at least 4 different ways that Paul uses the word, Israel.
1st - the term can signify the group of ethnic Jews who have true faith in the Lord. In Romans 9:6 the Apostle says, "not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." Here he distinguishes Israel according to the flesh—all ethnic Jews—from Israel according to the promise, which is that subset of ethnic Jews who trust in God and ultimately in Christ.
2nd - Paul uses the term Israel, to refer to the entire corporate nation that is made up of all ethnic Jews, including those who do not trust in the Lord.
3rd - Ethnic Jews who have not placed their faith in Jesus make up the 3rd group that bears the name Israel in Romans 9:11.
4th - Finally, the term Israel can also designate all of those who believe in Jesus, including both ethnic Jews & ethnic Gentiles. For ex., in Gal 6:16, Paul applies the name Israel to the entire believing community—the church—that follows Christ. This meaning is clearly implied in his teaching about the one olive tree with both Jewish & Gentile branches (Romans11:24). The "Israel that failed to obtain what it was seeking" refers to ethnic Jews who have rejected their Messiah, Jesus.
Jew? Here’s Paul’s definition of a “Jew”: Romans 2:28-29 – “For 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; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
.. No. Israel was Prophet Jacob's nickname:
Genesis 32:28
Genesis 35:10
..etc, etc.
This is not an either/or but a both/and!
See Romans 11,
Matthew 19:28: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” (NIV)
Luke 22:28-30: “You who have followed me will eat at my table and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (NIV)
Acts 1: 6 & 7 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority...
(This was not a no, it was a Not Your Business.)
Did you read anything I wrote? So you are going to ignore everything the Apostle Paul had to say about Israel? One of my points was that the word "Israel" is loaded word. It has multiple meanings & means different things to different people. We are under the New Covenant - the Covenant of Jesus Christ.