It surprises me to read some commentators stating that the rejoining House of Israel must conform to the House of Judah in religious matters.
Romans 4:16 – Everything depends on having faith in God, so that God’s promise is assured by his great kindness. This promise isn’t only for Abraham’s descendants who have the Law. It is for all who are Abraham’s descendants because they have faith, just as he did.
Jeremiah 12:14 THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE LORD – ALL THOSE EVIL NEIGHBORS WHO ENCROACH ON THE LAND WHICH I ALLOTTED TO MY PEOPLE, ISRAEL AS THEIR HOLDING, I SHALL UPROOT THEM FROM THEIR OWN SOIL…[The evil neighbours, those who wish to destroy Israel. The land is allotted to the House of Israel.
verse 14 continues: ALSO I SHALL UPROOT JUDAH FROM AMONG THEM.
The House of Judah removed as well.
Verse 15 BUT AFTER I HAVE UPROOTED THEM I SHALL HAVE PITY ON THEM AGAIN AND BRING EACH MAN BACK TO HIS LAND. Judah returned – only if…..
Verse 16 IF THEY WILL LEARN THE WAYS OF MY PEOPLE…..
They being Judah and My people being Israel. [Christian – righteous Israel]
Verse 17 BUT THE NATION THAT WILL NOT LISTEN, I SHALL UPROOT AND DESTROY.
Ephesians 2:11 REMEMBER, THEN YOUR FORMER CONDITION, GENTILES AS YOU ARE BY BIRTH; THE UNCIRCUMCISED AS YOU ARE CALLED BY THOSE WHO CALL THEMSELVES ‘THE CIRCUMCISED’
V 12 EXCLUDED FROM THE COMMUNITY OF ISRAEL…..[The visible entity of Judah]
V 13 ONCE YOU WERE FAR OFF …. NOW BROUGHT NEAR
Although this passage has always been thought to apply to all non Jews, careful study shows that it refers specifically to the Northern Tribes of Israel.
V 14-16 FOR HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE…… MADE THE TWO ONE…. BROKEN THE BARRIER OF ENMITY WHICH SEPARATED THEM. FOR HE ANNULLED THE LAW….. SO AS TO CREATE OUT OF THE TWO A SINGLE NEW HUMANITY IN HIMSELF, THEREBY MAKING PEACE. THIS WAS HIS PURPOSE, TO RECONCILE THE TWO IN A SINGLE BODY TO GOD THROUGH THE CROSS, BY WHICH HE KILLED THE ENMITY.
Amazing truth!!! Why hasn’t someone told me this before?
V17-20 GOOD NEWS PROCLAIMED…. PEACE TO YOU WHO ARE FAR OFF, PEACE TO THOSE WHO ARE NEAR. FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH ALIKE HAVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER IN THE ONE SPIRIT. THUS YOU ARE NO LONGER ALIENS IN A FOREIGN LAND, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS. YOU ARE BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, WITH CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF AS THE CORNER STONE.
Everybody, all born again Christians, are the Israel of God; with Jesus as their Lord.
Ref: REB some verses abridged
The Prophetic Word 