Are Jewish Christians Distinct from Gentile Christians? 

Ron asks a great question:  

If a Jew today becomes a believer in Jesus Christ, is there any way he is distinct from Gentile believers during the church age? I think he is not distinct because of Gal 3:28.  

Galatians 3:28 says: 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

What Paul is saying is that we are all united in Christ. We are one body. We all have equal standing in the Body of Christ.  

Paul is not saying, however, that all distinctions have been eliminated.  

Take males and females. Paul has much to say about both. Only older adult males can be elders in local churches. Only males can speak in the teaching time of the worship service. Women are to keep silent during that time. Older women are to teach the younger women. Widows are to be on a list for support, but not widowers.  

Paul has separate instructions for slaves and slave owners.  

Jews are ethnically distinct from Gentiles. In the first century, all Jewish males were circumcised. Gentile males were not. That was an obvious distinction. Even today, the vast majority of Jewish males are circumcised, though now a higher percentage of Gentile males are circumcised as well. In the U.S., 80% of Gentile males are circumcised. In Africa, the percentage is 62%. In South America and Asia less than 20% of Gentile males are circumcised. 

Jewish believers often practice Passover. Most Gentile believers do not. 

Some Jewish believers follow kosher dietary practices. Most Gentile believers do not.  

Whatever the distinctions between Jewish and Gentile believers, we are one in Christ. We all have everlasting life, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, are children of God, and are members of the Body of Christ.  

Keep grace in focus and you will love all believers, no matter their gender, age, income level, or ethnicity.  

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