Are the Jews God's chosen people today?
It's a hotly debated question.
You only need to do a cursory search of the
internet, to find people vehemently arguing
for and against this question.
Sometimes, secular rulers and politicians
have even made decisions and given special
consideration to Israel because of their view
that the Jews are God's chosen people.
Of course, what we want to know is: What does
the Bible say in answer to this question?
First, it's clear that there was a time when
the Jews were God's chosen people.
Deuteronomy 7:6, the Lord said to the Jewish
nation via Moses, "For you are a holy people
to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has
chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special
treasure above all the peoples on the face
of the earth."
But to really appreciate and understand that
statement, you've got to go back to the very
beginning of the Bible.
After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, God
said to the Devil, He said to the serpent,
"And I will enmity between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her Seed; He shall
bruise your head, and you shall bruise His
heel."
(Genesis 3:15) The seed of the woman who would
bruise the heel of the serpent is a reference
to Jesus Christ.
It's a prophecy that Jesus would be born into
the world of a woman.
Nine chapters later, in Genesis 12:2-3, God
made the following promise to Abraham.
He said, "I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you and make your name great;
and you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and I will
curse him who curses you."
Now listen to this part.
"And in you all the families of the earth
shall be blessed."
Friends, that, too, is a reference to Jesus
Christ.
Christ was going to be born into this world
of a woman, and specifically, He would be
a descendant of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation.
Friends, that's the sense in which the Jews
were a chosen people.
It was through them that the Messiah would
come.
Approximately 2000 years later, Jesus was
born, of a woman--specifically of a virgin--in
the city of Bethlehem and Jesus was born a
Jew.
Folks, that is the thrust of God calling the
Israelites His chosen people.
They were blessed to be the ones through whom
the one and only Redeemer came.
The question that we want to answer is this:
Are the Jews still God's chosen people today?
And the answer to that question is: No.
Today, Christians are God's chosen people.
I want you to listen very carefully to 1 Peter
2:9.
This is written specifically to Christians.
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation."
Listen.
"His own special people."
Verse 10 says this, “Who once were not a
people but are now the people of God, who
had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy."
So, who are the children of God today?
Friends, it is not the nation of Israel.
It's not those who are biologically Jews.
Listen to Colossians 3:11.
It says that in Christ, "There is neither
Greek nor Jew."
What's the point?
You see, your biological heritage is irrelevant
today with regard to being a child of God.
Listen to Galatians 3.
"For you are all sons of God through faith
in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free, there is neither male nor
female; for you are all one in Christ."
Now listen very carefully to verse 29.
"And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise."
What promise is that?
It's the promise of Genesis 12.
And what is the point of this text?
Friends, here's the point.
Today in the Christian age, anyone can be
one of God's chosen children.
It's not according to your biological birth.
It's based on the new birth.
It's based on obedience to the Gospel and
putting the Lord on in baptism.
If you will do that, then you'll spiritually
be a descendant of Abraham.
And most importantly, you'll be a child of
God.
