I don't think he "side-stepped" the question, Fullness Of The Gentiles, but he didn't directly answer it. In post #933, he quoted Romans 10:1-3 and highlighted 'Israel,' 'they,' and 'them,' indicating the equivalency of the three, that each of the three refer to the same group of people... which is probably agreeable to all of us here. But the issue is really superseded by Romans 9:6, where Paul clearly states, "not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." And it still goes back to what Paul said at the end of Romans 2 (verses 28-29), that "no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical... a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God." We Christians, whether Jewish or Gentile, are in Christ and therefore true Jews in Paul's context in Romans 2 and part of God's Israel in Romans 11:25-25. And Paul really drives this point home to the Ephesians also in Ephesians 2:11-22...You would answer the question, if not to be polite, then to prove that you are not side-stepping the question. You're still side-stepping the question.
"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called 'the uncircumcision' by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands ~ remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, Who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Paul says it in different ways in all his letters; here he is in Galatians 3, specifically verses 23-29, where he's also addressing the relation of Jewish folks and Gentile folks in the Christian church there...
"Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise."
This is what you and I see (I think) eye to eye on, but he either can't or won't. What's really very interesting in Romans 10:1-3 is that he is referring to Israel as "they" and "them," indicating that he thinks of them comprising a group that he himself is not part of. But Paul is as Jewish as Jewish can possibly be. Which is something to consider... :) Obviously, there is a big difference in being of Israel outwardly and being of Israel of God inwardly... in being set apart by ethnicity as opposed to being set apart by God by His Spirit.
Grace and peace to you! And Peterlag, of course. :)
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