The People of God

Who are the people of God? The Bible states in many places that God would choose out a people for His own possession. But who are these people? What does the Bible teach us about his subject?

Paul stated, “Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18. The people of God are people who have separated themselves from this world. Peter stated, “But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9. Who are the People of God? Christians!

Those who have been “Called out of darkness” are God’s chosen people. Peter continues, “Who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” 1 Peter 2:10. Peter and Paul’s teaching is clear; God’s people, his possession, are those who become Christians by faith and obedience to Christ. This includes peoples of every nation. Peter states, “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him” Acts 10:35.

Those who first became Christians were Hebrews. Paul states that the “gospel is the power of salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” Romans 1.16. Every Hebrew who obeyed Christ became People of God. Paul teaches, “That ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ” Ephesians 2:12-13. Gentiles too, when they accept Christ, become the People of God. The Bible teaching is clear, only faithful followers of Christ are God’s chosen people. No nation has the privilege of being God’s chosen just because of who they are. People of Every Nation have that privilege if, and only if, they have obedient faith in Christ Jesus.

Many people believe that Israel is the people of God. From these verses we see that this simply is not the case. When speaking to the Churches of Galatia, Paul calls them the “Israel of God”, (Gal. 6.16). Paul tells us, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” Romans 2:28-29. Again, “For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel” Romans 9:6b. Being part of the “Israel of God”, the church, makes a person one of God’s chosen.

Are you one of God’s chosen people? Are you a person of God’s possession? Please join us at the Piedmont church of Christ, 118 Madison Ave., in study of God’s word. In Christ, Josh Haley, Evangelist.