Who Are God's Chosen People?

As if Galatians and Ephesians have not made it clear enough already, believers in Christ Jesus—both Old and New Testament saints—are God's chosen people. Not Israel! Romans 9:8 makes a pretty clear statement that "it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." Galatians 3:26 and 29 continue by stating, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ... And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Peter states as crystal clear as it can get in 1 Peter 2:9-10, "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY." These statements are made directly to and about Christians! Everything Peter quotes or alludes to from the Old Testament were promised to or spoken about Israel, yet Peter quotes them for and applies them to the Church. The Church—the one body of Christ Jesus—consists of both Old and New Testament saints. All who have the faith of Abraham are God's chosen people.

Let us take a look at what the New Testament has to say about the terms "children of God," "people of God," and "sons of God."

CHILDREN OF GOD
Because the terms "children of God" and "sons of God" are interchangeable, the passages under this heading in the KJV are: John 11:52; Romans 8:16, 21; 9:8, 26; Galatians 3:26; 1 John 3:10; and 1 John 5:2. In the NASB, they are as follows:

• "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name," John 1:12
• "and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." John 11:52
• "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God," Romans 8:16
• "that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." Romans 8:21
• "That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." Romans 9:8
• "that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world," Philippians 2:15
• "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is." 1 John 3:1-2
• "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:10
• "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments." 1 John 5:2

John 11:52 sounds like it is speaking about the Israelites, but it is not. Read verses 51 and 52 together. When you read passages like John 10:16; Romans 9:8; Galatians 3:7, 26, and 29; and Ephesians 2:11-22 (among others), it makes it clear that the Gentile inclusion, which was prophesied in the Old Testament, is in view here. The children of God are scattered abroad. Some are Asian, some are African, some are Caucasian. They are located in every part of the world.


PEOPLE OF GOD
Hebrews 11:25 is the only verse here that actually refers specifically to the Israelites under Egyptian rule. Peter is applying his quotes from the Old Testament directly to Christians.

• "There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God." Hebrews 4:9
• "choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin;" Hebrews 11:25
• "for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY." 1 Peter 2:10

SONS OF GOD
Because the terms "sons of God" and "children of God" are interchangeable, the passages under this heading in the KJV are: John 1:12; Romans 8:14, 19; Philippians 2:15; and 1 John 3:1-2. In the NASB, they are as follows:

• "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Romans 8:14
• "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8:19
• "AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD." Romans 9:26
• "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26

Every single one of the above verses, with the exception of Hebrews 11:25, are speaking directly to and about believers in Christ Jesus—Christians; the Church; the one body of Christ; the bride of Christ, which is made up of Old and New Testament saints, Jew and Gentile alike. "[God the Father] chose us in [Christ Jesus] before the foundation of the world..."(Eph. 1:4). We, believers, are God's chosen people.