In light  of eternity

How Paul redefines God’s people as those who belong to Christ by faith, not by bloodline

Welcome back to our 12-week Sunday school series: The Israel of God. This series began Sunday, April 5, 2026, and this week we turn our attention to the very heart of Paul’s teaching: who exactly are “the people of God”? Paul dismantles any notion that ethnicity or physical descent defines God’s family. Instead, he declares that the true Israel of God consists of all who are united to Christ by faith — Jew and Gentile together as one new people.

Key Scriptures (NASB)

• Galatians 3:7 – “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.”

• Galatians 3:28-29 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

• Romans 2:28-29 – “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit…”

What Paul Is Really Saying

Paul’s redefinition of God’s people is one of the most liberating and unifying truths in the New Testament. True descent from Abraham has always been a matter of promise and faith, not flesh and blood. As we saw in Romans 9:6-8, “they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel.” The children of the promise — those who believe — are the real heirs.

Herman Ridderbos captures the sweeping eschatological reality: the whole apostolic preaching proclaims “the eschatological time of salvation inaugurated with Christ’s advent, death, and resurrection” (Paul, 1036). In Christ, the dividing wall of hostility is torn down (Ephesians 2:14), and believers from every background become “one new man” — a single, multi-ethnic family that fulfills the ancient promise to Abraham. O. Palmer Robertson reinforces this by showing that the covenant people were never defined merely by ethnicity; the promises always pointed to a restored, faith-filled humanity living under God’s rule.

This is not a rejection of ethnic Israel but the glorious expansion of God’s plan: the Israel of God is now defined by union with Christ. Every believer — regardless of background — is a true son or daughter of Abraham and a full citizen in God’s household. This truth calls us to live as one unified people today, reflecting the kingdom that has already broken into history.

Discussion / Application Questions (use these in class or small group)

1. How does Paul’s statement “those who are of faith… are sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7) challenge traditional ethnic definitions of God’s people?
2. In what ways does Galatians 3:28-29 create a new identity that transcends ethnic, social, and gender distinctions?
3. What does it mean practically that true “Jewishness” is inward, of the heart, by the Spirit (Romans 2:28-29)?
4. How does the concept of “one new man” in Christ fulfill God’s original promise to bless all nations through Abraham?
5. Why is it important to view the church today as the fulfillment of the Israel of God rather than a separate entity?
6. How can this faith-defined identity shape the way we treat fellow believers from different ethnic or cultural backgrounds in our own church and community?

Memory Verse to Hide in Your Heart

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29 NASB)

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that in Christ the barriers that once divided us have been removed. Thank You that we are no longer defined by ethnicity or outward markers but by faith in Your Son. Make us one people who live as true sons and daughters of Abraham, loving one another across every line and reflecting Your kingdom here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For Further Insight

These three additional posts from the blog will give you deeper background and context for everything we covered today:

→ The Israel of God in Galatians – A deep look at how Paul redefines Abraham’s family and the true sons through faith alone (covers the key Galatians 3 material on redefining descent from Abraham).

→ The Israel of God in Ephesians – Explores how Christ creates one new people from every nation and tears down the wall of hostility (full treatment of Ephesians 2 and the “one new man”).

→ The Israel of God: Unpacking Galatians 6:16 – Deep dive into Paul’s distinction between physical descent and spiritual sonship; shows that “not all Israel are Israel” and that the true Israel of God is the faith-defined, unified people in Christ.