Bearmaster,
I know many will take issue with me on these positions...
Really? I have read through the threads on this subject (and, personally, I think that it would have been better to leave the discussion to ONE thread and not multiple threads), but I haven't seen anyone argue against the "conclusions" that you presented.
Perhaps you misunderstood the points that others have made regarding the status of physical Jews? Unless I missed something (and I read through the posts in all of the recent threads on the issue), no one is arguing against the things that you concluded. Physical Jews need Christ just as much as Gentiles. This should be clear by the very fact that the early Church -- including Paul, Peter, John, etc... -- evangelized Jews.
The point of contention, it seems (even if it might go unsaid), is whether or not there physical Jews have lost their status as "God's chosen people."
The point that some have raised is that Paul made a distinction between physical Jews and Gentiles -- even if our spiritual needs are the same. Obviously, Jews need Jesus as much as everyone else. Yet, in Christ, there are no "Jews" or "Gentiles" (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11) because those who are in Christ have been grafted into the vine (Romans 11:17). Yet, in a physical sense of the original Covenant, there is still a distinction in terms of that Covenant. Thankfully, Israel will be saved when the fullness of the Gentiles is complete (Romans 11:25-26).
So, I can say that the points that you raised in this new thread aren't in doubt. The Gospel is the central theme in Scripture. Scriptural interpretation (especially in regard to salvation) is undeniably related to the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. There is no way to the Father but by the Son. The Bride of Christ is not made up of a particular earthly ethnicity, but of those who have turned to Christ. Believers have a New Covenant in His blood. I believe that Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant with His blood which is the basis for the New Covenant that He made with those who place their faith in Him.
So, no, I don't think that anyone would argue with what you wrote here. In fact, I don't think that anyone here at SermonIndex has argued against these things at all. However, I do believe that Paul -- an Apostle of the New Covenant -- clearly made a distinction between the physical Jews and Gentiles in his letter to the Romans and used Old Covenant scriptures to speak of such things. What is the basis for the physical distinction in regard to the Old Covenant? When Paul spoke of physical Jews who do not know Christ, he reminded us that "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Romans 11:28-29).
Calvinists will often cite that last passage and apply it in terms of their views of salvation. In context, I feel that it is speaking of the lasting Old Covenant in regard to Jews who have not come to Christ.
Ultimately, I think that we are all on the same page in terms of the fact that no one can come to the Father except through the Son. It doesn't come through birthright. It doesn't come through vain attempts to fulfill Mosaic law. It comes through Christ -- and Christ alone. That it the basis of the Gospel -- the Good News. This news is "good" regardless of whether you are a Jew or Gentile.
