“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for
God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for now you
are….the people of God…”(1 Peter 2:9,10). It is possible that this
passage confuses those who have not studied the eternal plan of God as
it pertains to Abraham’s covenant. They might ask, “Aren’t the Jews
God’s chosen people?” How is it that the Holy Spirit, communicating
through Peter refers to those who are obedient to Christ as His chosen
people? Let’s see if we can shed a little light on that subject.

In Gen. 12:2-3 God tells Abraham that He would make of him a great
nation and that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through
him (Abraham). Other passages reinforce this covenant between God and
Abraham (see Gen. 17:5; Gen. 22:17, 18). Other covenants were made to
Moses, David, Solomon, etc. that were conditional, but, the one made to
Abraham began being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
In verse 39 of that chapter Peter said, “For the promise is unto you
and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call.” Eight chapters later Peter visited the
household of Cornelius and changed the religious world forever by
recognizing God’s acceptance of Gentiles into His family.

The admittance of Gentiles to the elect of God (God’s Chosen) changed a
national group into an international group commonly referred to as the
church, or the assembly. In Acts 2:1-41 the Holy Spirit, through the
preaching of Peter, answered age-old questions and provided directions
for entrance into the “kingdom that would never be destroyed” (Daniel
2:44). Today God’s family consists of people from every nation under
heaven who follow those directions. A King (Jesus) with the new
covenant (Heb. 8:7-13) and new territory (worldwide) now rules the
chosen of God.

   Abraham lived before the Law was given to Moses. He received from God
a promise that continues to be active at this present time and even
into the future. In Genesis 22:18 God said, “And in your seed all
nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my
voice.” The only condition to God’s covenant with Abraham was that he
continued to be obedient to God.  Though Abraham was not a perfect man
he did have a heart for God and because of his faithfulness he met the
conditions given by God. There is nothing in God’s word that negates
that promise, not even the covenant made with Israel through Moses.
The genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:23-34 authenticates his lineage from
Abraham. In verse 17 Paul continues by telling us that the Law of Moses
could not invalidate “a covenant previously ratified by God so as to
nullify the promise.” The covenant with Israel ended with the sacrifice
of Christ (Heb. 9:9, 10) .The promise to Abraham stands for all who
believe and obey the Son’s teaching. In the sermon of Acts, chapter 2
Peter sheds light on that promise (2:39). He is answering a question
from the Jews who wanted to know what they should do to obey God. Peter
answers the question in verse 38 and then adds, “For the promise is for
you and your children and all who are far off, as many as the Lord our
God shall call to Himself” (verse 39).  “You and your children” is a
reference to the Jews and the statement “to all that are far off” is a
reference to the Gentiles. (David L. Ropers, Truth For Today
Commentary. Vol. 1, page 89). It is a fact that from that point on into
the future the obedient to God’s commands are the recipients of the
promise to Abraham and, as such, are God’s chosen people.
   Genesis 22:18 also required obedience as a necessary requirement of
those who would be recipients of the promise. God’s covenant made with
the Israelites, when He brought them out of Egypt, was a conditional
covenant. In Hebrews 8:9  and Jeremiah 31:32 the Bible says, “For they
did not continue in my covenant, and I did not care for them, says the
Lord.” That covenant through Moses was replaced by “a new covenant”
(Heb. 8:13). The New Testament is the New Covenant and our obedience to
its teaching ensures us a membership in God’s family (His chosen).
   Galatians 3:26, 27 give us some of the requirements for membership.
Faith in Christ as God’s Son is a necessary prerequisite. Belief in New
Testament teaching from which we derive our faith must be obeyed and
that includes baptism (verse 27). The result is membership in God’s
chosen family, composed of people from every nation (verse 28) and
recognition by Christ as “Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to
promise” (verse 29).
`   It was never the intention of God to exclude any nationality of
people from his promised kingdom. Less it be said that the author of
this document excludes the Jews from His chosen people our attention is
directed to Romans 2:28-29. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly;
...But he is a Jew who is one inwardly.... whose praise is not of men,
but of God.”  Paul is here explaining that the true Jew livcs to obey
God. Such an individual will always be the chosen of God. In another
passage Paul records, “...for they are not all Israel who are descended
from Israel; neither are they all children because they are Abraham’s
descendants, but: ‘THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.’ 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 9:6).
   God’s covenant with His chosen people includes people from every
nation who submit themselves to that rule. It is no longer true that
the people of Israel, by virtue of their national birth, comprise the
chosen of God. Abraham’s promise is for everyone who lives by faith
(Gal. 3:26-29). It does not include the group that nationally rejected
God (John 1:11), but does include individuals of that group as they
give their lives to God’s Son. The Jews and the Gentiles, who give
their lives to Christ and the New Covenant, become heirs of Abraham and
children according to the promise of Abraham. Adherence to the Mosaic
Covenant has to change to adherence to the New Covenant for that change
to take place.
   The writer of Hebrews 9:15-17 is very clear about the particulars
surrounding the result of our discipleship and the covenant under which
we live. We must understand that the words,  “testament,” “covenant,”
and “will” are used synonymously in these references. The writer points
out that a “will” is only effective while the one who made it lives. At
his death the new “will” becomes effective. The covenant of Moses was
effective until Christ died. Then the new covenant (will) became
effective. God’s chosen people live under the New Will, or the New
Testament and include all who believe and obey Him.

Boyd Williams
Vero Beach Church of Christ
boydalbert@aol.com