I honestly thought this would be common ground for us. I see how, from your perspective your view makes sense. Do you not think that the following verse could also support the idea that Paul believed in a spiritual Israel?
Romans 2:28-29
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
If Paul did indeed believe in a spiritual Israel, his use of the term "Israel of God" would be consistent with that belief in my opinion.
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Problem is that in Romans 1:18 thru 3:20 Paul is basically laying out first, why God turned from the Gentiles.
As well as from the moralizer.
And from the Jew.
All that is prior to Paul and is speaking of the issue why all have been worthy of His wrath.
Then, having tried them all; having proven them "all under sin" he returns to the issue he first pointed out in 1:26 and 17 - the righteousness of God in His Son He is offering instead of the wrath all deserve; but which He has temporarily delayed.
In this, what he is talking about in Romans 2 is how that even the Gentile, who had not the Law - even his behavior at times would put the Jew - who should have known better because he had the Law - to shame.
Lol - reminds me of something I saw once.
I was with a friend who loves tinkering with cars.
We were visiting another friend who also loves working on cars - who works at an auto repair shop.
When we got there, we found him stuck as to what to do to solve for some problem on a car.
My friend - who can't seem to stay away from tinkering with cars asks if he minds if he gives it a try.
The guy obliges him. I mean, we're all old friends...
Lol - just then, the guy's boss walks in; stands there a minute, and then finally says to the guy "I hired you; not him. Maybe I should give him your job; he seems to know it better than you."
My friend replied - "who do you think taught me - he did."
That is what Paul is talking about there in....
Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
He says the following in light of all that - he is relating how that the Jew; who goes around parading around before the Gentile the fact that he; a Jew is called of God - that he is...a Jew, is a hypocrite who the Gentile ends up showing up.
2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
Paul then returns to his indictement against the so "called a Jew..."
2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Case in point, that Roman Centurion - a Gentile....
Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
His one action fulfilled the righteousness of the Law he was not even under and in that moment put Israel to shame.
His one Circumcision action in contrast to Israel's Uncircumcision of the heart, was not only acceptable to the Lord, but put Israel to shame.
The issue THEN was the righteousness of the Law.
Romans 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.