I will disagree respectfully on the basis that passages are many times read incorrectly. The "spiritual Jew" concept is what closes out
Romans 2...where Paul makes the argument that Jews and Gentiles are both under sin, and that God is not impartial to either! He closes it out at
Romans 2:28-29 where this is said:
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
The point here is that of being a "spiritual Jew" when one is converted because the circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit (salvation), is the New Covenant which Christ introduced prior to becoming the Passover Lamb.
It has always been the circumcision of the heart that makes the difference as said way back in
Deuteronomy 10:16. The physical circumcision has always been an outward sign of an inward work...which is the circumcision of the heart!
Which is why God will save the entire nation of Israel and they will have their hearts circumcised!
Romans 11 King James Version (KJV)
11 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day.
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if 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;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
IN teh last three days- Israel will turn to Christ as Messiah, call upon Him and then Jesus will return as He said in Matthew:
Matthew 23:38-39 King James Version (KJV)
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
*The Abrahamic and Davidic covenants point to Christ. Isaac, the child of promise to Abraham, brings forth Christ...
Romans 9:8, also again...
Galatians 3, where Paul painstakingly makes the point! Many times in the Gospel Christ is called "Son of David" by those who understood the Davidic Covenant is Christ. Paul took
Romans 4, for the particular purpose of helping saint's to understand the "descendants of Abraham" are those who have the faith of Abraham...NOT those who think being physical descendant's matters at all. One can be physical descendant of Abraham...and because they don't have the "faith of Abraham"...they are lost! The faith of Abraham works inwardly for the Jew, as well as the Gentile...as Paul says...there is no diference!
And to the Kingdom promised to Israel and to the Land!
*Do you also miss the fact that when Christ appears, He is God's Servant Israel...which is
Isaiah 49? Jesus is what now makes all in Christ "A CHOSEN GENERATION" under the New Covenant. He is the "Israel of God" Paul refers to in
Galatians 6:
13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.
14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Do you really think that Paul was so ignorant He would need to wish PEACE and MERCY upon JESUS???? Jesus needs no peace- He is peace. And He definitely doesn't need mercy! But the Israel of God (the faithful remnant in every generation) does need peace and mercy!
Lastly, Paul again makes the point at
Philippians 3:2-4:
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;
3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh...
When you understand in this passage "circumcision", a word Paul commonly uses as a slang for Jews...you can get the thrust of it. The "false circumcision" Jews who hold to the Old Covenant, while denying Christ!
I hold to being a "spiritual Jew" but...I don't make it a big deal to those who don't or won't acknowledge that. I just again hold to Paul's prominent statement in Ephesians 2:11-22. It's pretty clear.
I agree, and I am not talking about the Jews who still held to the Mosaic covenant! When Paul says WE are the true circumscion- He is contrasting saved Jews from unsaved Jews! Plus he also was referring to literal circumcision- for that was a requirement for a gentile to become a proselyte