In Matthew 16:13-18 Jesus has a conversation about his disciples as to who others and they say he is. As part of the conversation in Matthew 16:18, Jesus says he will build his church. When one considers the entirety of the New Testament it is abundantly clear that his church consists of both Jew and Gentile. The term Jew refers to Israelites from all twelve tribes who are biological seed or offspring of Abraham. The term Gentile refers to all other persons.
The members of Jesus church are those Jews and Gentiles from the universe of Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as their Messiah, their Lord and Savior.
Galatians 3:26 says: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Thus, both Jew and Gentile become members of the church by faith in Christ Jesus of the nature of the faith of Abraham per Galatians 3:26-29.
Let us lay some foundational concepts.
Under the Old Covenant strangers (Gentiles) could voluntarily join the family of God (Israel then) and have all the same rights and privileges as native born Israelites.
As Leviticus 24:22 says this meant that the same law applied to Gentiles and Israelites. Exodus 12:43-49 gives a specific example of the one law rule. It says for a stranger, that is, Gentile, to keep the Passover, he must be circumcised first.
In Ephesians 2:11-19, Paul speaks of Gentiles who have come into the church or family of God or household of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
In Ephesians 2:19 he says: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
So we see how Paul says Gentiles and Jews are fellow citizens. Fellow citizens have the same laws.
I believe God has a set of laws that the members of the church are to abide by. Some of the laws were present under the Old Covenant. However, regarding some of those laws brought forward from the Old Covenant, I do not believe they apply in the same way under the New Covenant that they did under the Old Covenant.
I believe Christians live according to the spirit of the law more so than in the letter (as written) of the law. I do not believe our salvation is dependent on keeping the law perfectly. Yet, I do not believe the saved live lawlessly. I believe our attitude toward the law is very important to God and will be judged by God.
Unfortunately, Christians see the role of the law differently. Some see the law relative to faith as very important; other see it as not being very important. Of course, faith is the most important but for me law is very important in living a saved life that glorifies our Father God as Jesus says we ought to. For in Matthew 5:16 Jesus says: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
No matter what law applies in terms of commandments from God they are the same for both Jew and Gentile members of the church.
Let me give an example of a law that applies equally to Jew and Gentile.
Ephesians 6:2-3 is a quote from one of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:12.
Exodus 20:12 says: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Ephesians 6:2-3 says: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
I believe both Jew and Gentile are instructed to obey Ephesians 6:2-3 under the New Covenant under Christ
