Not My People

Everyone is God’s creation, but not everyone is God’s people. Everyone who has ever lived on earth has received life and existence from God, but not everyone is God’s child.

It all began with Abraham. He was not God’s people, but God’s sovereignty called and chose Abraham to be the beginning of God’s people.

Genesis 12:1-3 (NLT)

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.

2  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

3  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

God was calling Abraham and those who would eventually be connected to Abraham through Jesus to become God’s people. This unique calling of God was confirmed again in the Psalms.

Psalm 135:4 (NLT)

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure.

That was the foundation of God’s calling out of Israel, a people that would belong to God (My People). But what about the New Testament? What about the Gentiles and the church? The Holy Spirit reveals that through faith in Christ, Gentiles can also be a chosen people and a royal priesthood, alongside Israel.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT)

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”

Before Abraham, Israel had no identity, Not My People.  Before Christ, the Gentiles had no identity, Not My People. God’s mercy called Abraham, and God’s mercy has also called the Gentiles in the church age to come and share the blessings of God’s Chosen People.

The Old Testament Prophet Hosea describes the incredible mercy of God that takes away our “Not My People” label and calls us “the Chosen” instead.

Hosea 2:23 (NLT)

At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself. I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’ And to those I called ‘Not my people,’ I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’ And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’”

The Apostle Paul writes to the Gentile Church in Rome and confirms that the Hosea prophecy also applies to the Gentiles who put their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

Romans 9:24-26 (NLT)

And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles. 25  Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, “Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.” 26  And, “Then, at the place where they were told, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

By the grace and mercy of God and the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ, we have been transferred from “Not My People” to the “Children of the Living God”. This grace-filled transformation is for all who will put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Jews and Gentiles.

That’s why it’s called Good News! In the end, there will be winners and losers. There will be no participation trophies handed out on the last day.

Terry Cooper

Lead Pastor