are Israel: The word Israel can have more than one meaning. It can refer to all the physical descendants of Jacob, that is, the people of Israel by birth. However, in the later part of the Old Testament and in Jewish teaching, a new idea developed. This idea is often called a “remnant,” meaning a smaller group within Israel who remain faithful to God (see Isaiah 11:10–16).
In the New Testament, Israel can sometimes have a broader meaning. On at least one occasion, it refers to all people who belong to God in a spiritual sense, including both Jews and Gentiles (Galatians 6:16).
Paul teaches that there is now an “Israel within Israel.” This means that not all who belong to Israel by birth truly belong to God’s people. God’s true people are those who believe, whether they are Jews or Gentiles (compare Romans 11:16–17; Galatians 6:16).