I think there is a place for calling the International Church, the Body of Christ, "Spiritual Israel." But since this can get confusing I think it's best to refer to "Israel" as it is in the literal sense, as the natural descendants of Abraham who have formed into a nation.
Paul's argument that "true Israel" consists of genuine believers is not an effort to confuse this. He is simply arguing that those who do not live properly as Israel was supposed to be under the covenant of God have proven themselves to be illegetimate in terms of "faith." If individuals were unfaithful in the Wilderness God cut them off--they were illegitimate representatives of who His peole were supposed to be under the Law.
So those who were unfaithful in Israel did not stop being 'Israel," nor did they change race or nation. Rather, they just proved to not live properly under terms of the covenant. And that covenant was designed to prove who God both called and chose to be His people.
The OT possition on Israel, is that of Jacob ! not the People in fact ! for Jacob was not Israel untill The Angle said he was so !
Out of all of Jacobs sons only 2 were of his own true sons, that he truly wanted in fact and the elder one of this true Wife was Jacobs one that he loved the most in fact and the rest hated this, so and tryed to kill him ! but sold him in the end ! then the younger Son of his true wife was his best son. the rest of the sons were not truly worthy of God in fact.
Jacob was tricked into the first wife and the other two women were not his wife's !
So we have a People of God with the start of Abraham ! but they are not all Israel in fact, because only Jacob became Israel ! but then Jacob had children, but when did Jacob become Israel ? Jacob did not become Israel untill when ? he was not Israel with the first children was he ?
Look at how great Israels first real Son was to become ! He was blessed by God ? way above all of the rest in fact !
And Israels 2ed Son to his real wife was greater than the rest of the other brothers !
Then we see the 2 real Sons and their Sons what goes on in regards them, is greater than the rest of all !
So this nonsense about all Jews being equal is rubbish ! No one ever made it to be an Israel in the Bible but for Jacob and Nathaniel in fact !
The rest are only the Tribe of Israel ? get that ? not truly worthy of the God of Israel in fact ! for they failed as well, when they turned from God every time in fact ! and were great when they were abiding with the God of Israel !
Then we seen the fall of the Tribes ! and then we seen the bastards who where in control of the Jews ? were clearly devoid of the God of Israel, but for a few ! who were worthy of Holy Moses and it was them who became the first Christians in fact ! because they were worthy of Israel in fact ! but the rest were clearly not worthy of Israel at all and they were vomited out of the Land !
So the only people from Christ Jesus on are truly born again Christians in fact, for they are Saved ! and they abide in Christ Jesus because thery are His People !
For they abide in him and he in them in fact ! outside of such a unity is worthless for they are an abomination to God !
Anyone who makes a claim on that they are worthy by blood line is a Carnal or only a religious dupe ! like a dog chasing it's tail. thinking their is something their. it's just it's self ? thinking it's them who does the work ? but it's God who does the work in you, if you abide ?
Jews who claim nowadays to be Gods Jews People are what percentage of such a blood line if any in fact ? seriously when one does the maths down to nowadays one would be flat out being 10% say, if that.
Take an Australian Aboriginal say, one abo and one Pom make a child back in the 1770 say, now who is that child truly ? such is not an Aboriginal child in fact ! it's 50/50 ! then that child has a child with another Pom and so on !
But from about 1990 on the Socialist Government tempted the public with Lies, making out that such people were Aboriginals ?
Just like the people who lie about people being Gods people as Jews ? When Jesus said not all who claim to be are !
So when I talk to my old mates who are 100% blood line Australian Aboriginals.
What do they say ? well they have always said they are the Aboriginals and the rest are clearly not Aboriginals ! but but but ! the majority of Australians clearly could not give a rats about the true Aboriginals at all in fact ! for such ignorant fools will believe that I am an Aboriginal, if I just said I am !
That's clearly how delusional that they are !
For they are only to happy to believe a Lie !
For their is no Truth in them !
Such as They will go along with what ever is the trend of the day, to look like fitting in, with what they call Pride ? Pride in being a Fool ! for if one calles such a people out on such, what do the morons do ?
It's just like the ones who did the same to Jesus back in the day !
The same Godless morons who have no Virtue but are just a Mob in fact !
Not to mention nowadays they pride themselves on being a Mob ! haha how pathetic !
In the Bible You understand what a Mob truly is ! don't you ?