Liberty Advocate

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Christians Are God’s Chosen People

by

Karen Pansler-Lam, J.D.

Many Evangelicals idolize the nation of Israel and the Jews.  They believe Israel and the Hebrew race are still God’s chosen people. 

But the New Testament makes it very clear the Bride of Christ is not the nation of Israel - the Jews.  The New Testament makes it very clear the Bride of Christ is the Church, the universal body of true believers.

Paul makes it very clear that the Jews rejected Christ, and the “elect” and the “saints” are Abraham’s spiritual but not physical descendants. 

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;
and circumcision is that of the heart,
in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:28, 29

Paul explains that under the New Covenant the only circumcision which counts is that of “the heart” and “in the spirit.”  We must be born again. In other words, the true seed of Abraham are not physical descendants, but spiritual ones. Specifically, to be born of the Hebrew race does not make one of the “elect.”  It is only the circumcising of the heart, and in the spirit, that makes us acceptable to a holy God. Spiritual circumcision is cutting out and casting off the sin in our hearts resulting in holiness and righteousness.  In short, we must be born again.  Indeed, only those who are born again are the heirs of Abraham and the heirs of Christ.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female:
 for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:26-29

Remember Paul was a Jew.  But Paul clearly tells the Jews that their hereditary confidence in the special privileges of their nationality and their religion is wrong.  A man might be a descendant of Israel, and yet might not be a Jew in the spiritual sense.

For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children:
but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

That is,  They which are the children of the flesh,
these are not the children of God:
 but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Romans 9:6-8

Matthew Henry comments:

The Jews, considered as a body politic, a nation and people, knit together by the bond and cement of the ceremonial law, the temple and priesthood, the centre of their unity, had for many ages been the darlings and favourites of heaven, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, dignified and distinguished by God's miraculous appearances among them and for them. Now that the gospel was preached, and Christian churches were planted, this national body was thereby abandoned, their church-polity dissolved; and Christian churches (and in process of time Christian nations), embodied in like manner, become their successors in the divine favour, and those special privileges and protections which were the products of that favour. 

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Rom/Rom_009.cfm

And Hebrews 8:6-13 and chapter 9 explains the Old Covenant has been cancelled; Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, or new testament: All those washed in the blood of the Lamb are heirs of Christ. All true Christians are the children of God and joint-heirs with Christ...

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:14-17

And Paul explains in Ephesians 2:13 that Gentiles were once strangers from the covenants of promise…

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

And Paul continues in Ephesians 4 that Christ broke down the middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles and reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross.  Hence, all true believers - converted Jews and converted Gentiles - are of the household of God. 

There is one body, and one Spirit,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all,
and through all, and in you all.
Ephesians 4:4-6

And that one body is the body of Christ, or true Christians.  We are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  Those who have repented and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior and rely on Him for justification and salvation are adopted as the children of God.  True Christians are God's chosen people...

But ye are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood,
an holy nation,
a peculiar people;
that ye should shew forth the praises of him
 who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God:
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9,10

O Christians, rejoice!

Christians are a chosen generation.

Christians are a royal priesthood.

Christians compose one holy nation.

Christians are a peculiar people.

The New Testament supplanted Israel with the Church.

Christians are God's chosen people. 

O Christians, rejoice!

March 2014 
Liberty Advocate
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