****The Church the BOdy of Christ is ONE NEW MAN, not one man improved upon****
Where did I say the Body of Christ is “one man improved upon”?
I said that the Church did not replace Israel. Replacment would mean that Israel ceased to exist, but that is not the case now is it?
Now that I have had the chance to look over the verse you posted in context, I still don’t see how that verse contradicts what I said, which is what the ? indicated.
Both Jews and Gentiles are sinners and separated from God because of that sin. The Jews believed that they were clean and the Gentiles unclean and because of this they kept themselves separate from the Gentiles.
This new man is the union of the Jew and the Gentile under the new covenant. The verse just before the one you quoted...
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us];
and then after the verse you quote:
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
We are united, coheirs and partakers of the promises of Christ, and that is the new Israel.
Then you must not be Catholic. Because that is what it is taught you are: spiritual Israel. Cynical Bear has already given you proof from your own church that the RCC believes and teaches she is spiritual Israel.