What does it mean that 'not all Israel is Israel'?
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The phrase means that true Israel consists of those who are spiritually elect, not merely those who are physically descended from Abraham.
The statement 'not all Israel is Israel' highlights a distinction made by Paul in Romans 9, indicating that being a descendant of Abraham does not, in itself, confer spiritual identity or status before God. True Israel consists of those whom God has chosen for salvation, known as the elect. This understanding is essential as it reflects the broader theological truth that God's grace is sovereign and not dependent on human lineage or works. This underscores the doctrine of election and the reality that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, fulfilling God’s promises to His chosen people regardless of their ethnic background.
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