A Chosen People

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." Deuteronomy 14:2

Statements like what we have above when improperly perceived, cause various problems and suggest several false ideas. One issue is the suggestion of Israel's, as a nation, importance following the judgment - that Christ will establish His throne there among the physical nation and have a 1,000-year reign. The New Testament suggests otherwise (Jn 14:2-3; 1 Thess 4:13-17; Rev 20:11-21:8). Another false idea surrounds the importance of preserving Israel as a nation in today's time. Many believe that Israel, the nation, is still God's chosen people, and as such, despite the implications in the New Testament of the death and annulment of the Law of Moses (Col 2:14; Rom 1:15-16; Gal 1:6-9; Heb 8:13; Heb 9:15-17), many still believe the Jews will be saved.

Many other problematic teachings could be addressed, but I prefer to address the root of the issue. In my estimation, the root of the issue surrounds the interpretation of many concerning the word "chosen." It appears that in the minds of many, "chosen" is understood as "preferred." Could it be that God prefers the Jews over the Gentiles? Well, that very idea is against the character of God (Acts 10:34-35; Rom 2:11; Deut 10:17; Job 34:19). So then, if that idea is against the character of God, then we can rightly conclude that idea is against the teaching of truth - this then beckons the question, "what then does 'chosen' mean?"

If we look at different contexts that speak about both the Israelites and the Church as being God's chosen people, this is what we can infer - it is not that we are preferred, but that we are used for intentional purposes, namely holy purposes (Ex 19:5-6; Jer 2:3; 1 Pet 2:9).

When chosen as God's people, we are not set above those whom He has preferred but as people who are to do His work. The Lord loves all.