Your example is kind of out of context because James was referring to believers as the twelve tribes. The early church often referred to themselves in this way. How can I say this? Look at the context of James’ statement. He is not writing to Jews but to the early church. He writes: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” Why would he say “my brothers,” and then write all about how the Christians should bear up under persecution? No where in his letter does he say he is writing to his fellow Jews. It is an offhanded way of referring to the church as the new people of God who were now “sacttered” throughout the known world because of persecution.

This is also why you have the imagery of the 24 elders representing both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

Christians are the remnant. Why would God allow so many Jews over the centuries to go to their eternal deaths before trying to save just a portion of them? That’s kind of odd and cruel, don’t you think? The remnant are those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ. There is neither Jew nor gentile anymore period. That is a pretty emphatic statement. Jesus said that His true worshippers, would worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Paul said we are grafted in and are now one in Christ. Whether you are Jew or gentile means nothing, only that you believe and are saved.

Paul’s argument for Israel in Romans 9-11 refers to his own devotion to his own people and answers the naysayers who tried to say Paul did not care about his fellow Jews. He proves that not only does he care, but that is why God sent Jesus into the world: “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the ‘stumbling stone (Romans 9:30-32).’” They stumbled over Jesus! Romans 10 talks about how it was Paul’s “heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved… they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes (Romans 10:1-3).”

NOTE that “everyone who believes.” No Jew is saved without Christ: “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:12-13).’” He goes on to say that, “not all the Israelites accepted the good news (v. 16)… Did God reject his people? By no means (Romans 11:1)!” Why not? Because He will save only a remnant? NO!

Paul rhetorically asks, “Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring (Romans 11:11-12)!” Jesus came through the Jews, but the Jews refused Him, however, God holds out salvation for them as well just as He does for anyone who trusts in Jesus! The hope was therefore that “if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again (v. 23)… Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved (literally “delivered”) (vv. 25-26).” How are they delivered? The problem was that there were those in the church who began to say that Paul’s fellow Jews had missed their opportunity to be saved. Paul relates that this was totally wrong – anyone can be saved and especially the Jews since it was through them that Christ came! If Jesus could save a disobedient people like the pagan gentiles, he certainly could save a disobedient and hard-hearted people like the Jews! God’s promise was that salvation would come to everyone because of the Jews. And that is the meaning of the following verses: “As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all (Romans 11:28-32)).”

All men are disobedient, all men need salvation, all men including the Jews will be saved by God’s mercy only through faith in Christ. You have to read the verses of James and Paul in context or their entire letters. A text taken out of context is a pretext for a false doctrine. God has not given up on anyone because He loves His people – all of His people.

Anyone who comes to Christ are now His people. The covenant is completely fulfilled in Christ.

I profusely apologize that this is so long, but the answer necessitated it.