In the old covenant, the Jews were God's chosen people, and they had a special relationship with Him. They were given the Law and the Prophets, and they were entrusted with the oracles of God. They were circumcised and followed strict dietary laws, and they were required to observe various feasts and festivals throughout the year.
On the other hand, the Gentiles were considered outsiders and were often looked down upon by the Jews. They were seen as unclean and were not allowed to participate in the covenant faith of the Jews. They did not have the Law or the Prophets, and they did not have the same understanding of God that the Jews did.
But we all know that changed drastically in the new covenant.
So it begs the question… What Does A Jew/Hebrew/Israelite in Christ receive that a Gentile does not? A simple question with a simple answer.... nothing... They all receive the same thing once in Christ. To add more insight to this, in truth, gentiles could always join the old covenant of the jews to receive from God the exact same things and become an Israelite themselves but that is not the entire focus here. I have another writing altogether for that. Today we are focusing on the division that many Hebrew roots, professing Hebrews and other modern day Ebionites make to divide those in Christ into a special class only to “True Israelite Descendants” with the following verse.
Romans 9:4
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
This is a common scripture used from professing Hebrews. But Paul is narrating all of what was given to The Israelites mostly throughout the old covenant. What throws many off is the word “covenants”. What many misunderstand is the list of things that the Israelites received other people can participate in. In other words, God gives to individuals or groups something specific, but not exclusive. According to scripture, Christians participate in the same blessings, ministries and roles received from Christ in The New Covenant.
God Made a Covenant with Abraham.
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. (Gen 17:10-11 ESV)
Anyone could join that Covenant through circumcision.
He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. (Gen 17:12-13 ESV)
And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him. (Gen 17:27 ESV)
God made a Covenant with The Nation of Israel.
And the LORD said to Moses, "Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Exo 34:27-28 ESV)
Any gentile who was circumcised became an Israelite and joined the covenant.
If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. (Exo 12:48 ESV)
Greek Septuagint version 250 B.C.
And if any proselyte shall come to you to keep the passover to the Lord, thou shalt circumcise every male of him, and then shall he approach to sacrifice it, and he shall be even as the original inhabitant of the land; no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. (Exo 12:48 Brenton)
Exo 12:48 And if any should come forward to you convertG4339 - (Apostolic BiblePolyglot w/strong’snumbers)
Proselyte mean’s one who converts to Judaism becoming a Jew.
“a proselyte,” lit. “one that has come to” Judaism from some Gentile religion - Vocabulary of The Greek New Testament
MLV/Definition: Jewish@convert*, Jewish@converts* Supplement: (one who has come over) - Modern Literal Version Concordance, Dictionary & Lexicon Greek Concordance 2021
Of converts to Judaism, a proselyte (v. DB, s.v.): Mat 23:15, Act 2:10; Act 6:5; Act 13:43 (refs4). † - A.M.G.L.
"Someone who has converted to Judaism from another religion or culture. In the New Testament, the term 'proselyte' is used to refer to those who had already converted to Judaism before becoming Christians. Proselytes were required to undergo circumcision and other religious rites in order to fully join the Jewish community" (AMG Bible Essentials, p. 370).
and many of the Gentiles were circumcised, and became Jews, for fear of the Jews. (Esther 8:17)
God made a New Covenant with Israel and Judah.
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer 31:31-34 ESV)
All who believe in Christ are saved and enter the new covenant.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ… So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Eph 2:13,19)
who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2Co 3:6 ESV)
Below is a list of gifts, benefits and promises given to all in the new covenant, observable in the new testament as identical to all of what the Jews received under the old covenant.
CHRISTIANS
Adoption = Romans 8:15 and 23, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5
Glory = 1 Peter 5:1, Romans 2:10, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 8:23, Ephesians 3:13,21 - 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 Timothy 2:10, Hebrews 2:10
The Covenants = 2 Corinthians 3:6... Gentile Christians are ministers of the new covenant because they like the jews in Christ are also ministers of the new covenant. An equality at its clearest resounds in this passage alone. “He gave some to be ministers”-Ephesians
Giving of The Law = 1 Corinthians 9:21, Galatians 6:2 Christians receive the Law of Christ
The Worship = John 4:24 ->> Philippians 3:3!!![Paul says the REAL Jews are Christians], Romans 12:1, 1 Peter 2:5
The Promises = 2 Corinthians 1:19-20, 2 Corinthians 7:1, HEBREWS 8:6[The new covenant is better than the old!!!
Chosen = Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, James 2:5,
A Holy Nation = Matthew 21:23, 1 Peter 2:9
All of the above shows both Jews and Gentiles in Christ receiving the same things, which the Epistle to The Hebrews Calls “A Better Covenant”. This post was intended to be short simply for you to more easily understand this most precious truth. There is more I have to say on this subject and i shall do so in another writing piece. But for now, use this piece to show the fruits available to all in Christ. For all in him there is no division…
Christ is risen...