When we talk about the people of God, it's easy to immediately think of Israel as a nation. After all, the Old Testament is full of promises and stories about this chosen people. But what does the New Testament say? Is Israel still the only people of God, or is there something deeper? As Christians, we want to understand what the Bible teaches without falling into unnecessary divisions. At EncuentraIglesias.com, we believe God's Word is clear and accessible to everyone.
The answer is not as simple as a yes or no. The Bible shows us that God has always had a plan to bless all nations through Abraham's offspring. That plan is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who opens the door for anyone, Jew or Gentile, to become part of God's people through faith. This doesn't mean God has rejected Israel, but that His purpose expands and deepens.
In this article, we'll explore together what the Bible really says about this important topic. We'll see how the first Christians understood their identity and how we, today, can live as part of God's people in unity and love.
Israel in the Old Testament
From the beginning, God chose Abraham and his descendants to be a channel of blessing for all humanity. In Genesis 12:2-3, God promises him: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (NIV). Israel was not chosen because they were better than other peoples, but to fulfill a divine purpose.
The Old Testament is full of examples of how God guided, disciplined, and restored Israel. Despite their failures, God always kept His covenant. However, even from the prophets, we see that salvation would not be limited only to Israel. Isaiah 49:6 says: "I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (NIV). This points to a broader plan.
It's important to note that being part of God's people has always involved faith and obedience. It wasn't just a matter of bloodline. Many foreigners, like Ruth or Rahab, were included in the community of Israel because they trusted in the God of Israel. This gives us a clue of what was to come.
The New Covenant and the Redefinition of God's People
With the coming of Jesus Christ, a new covenant is established. Jesus himself said in John 10:16: "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd" (NIV). This indicates that God's people are no longer defined by ethnicity, but by faith in Christ.
The apostle Paul explains this clearly in Romans 2:28-29: "A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code" (NIV). Membership in God's people is now spiritual, not carnal.
In Galatians 3:28-29, Paul adds: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (NIV). This is revolutionary: all believers, regardless of their background, are considered children of Abraham and heirs of the promises.
What About Israel as a Nation?
This does not mean that God has forgotten Israel. Paul himself, in Romans 11, speaks of a mystery: that part of Israel has hardened their hearts, but that in the end, all Israel will be saved. This has generated much debate. Some interpret it as referring to a future revival among Jewish people, while others see it as the full number of elect believers from both Jews and Gentiles. Whatever the interpretation, we can be sure that God's plan is good and that He invites everyone into His family through faith in Jesus.
At EncuentraIglesias.com, we want to help you find a church where you can grow in this understanding and live as part of God's global family. Whether you are Jewish, Gentile, or from any background, you are welcome in Christ.
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