Recently in one of my previous posts I referred to the children of God as being those who believe in Christ Jesus the Lord. That statement was summarily shot down, rather rudely, I might add, by a man who knew not the difference between being God’s children and being God’s chosen people.

According to Deuteronomy 7:6, the Israelites were selected by God out of all the peoples on the earth to be His special people…God CHOSE the Jewish Israelites to be the lineage through which Jesus the Messiah would be born. Twenty-two passages speak of the special relationship between God and the Jews: Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, 14:2, 26:17-19, 2 Samuel:23-24, 1 Kings 8:53, 10:9, 1 Chronicles 17:20-21, Psalm 105:8-15, 135:4, Isaiah 41:8, 43:1-3, 44:21, Jeremiah 31:1-4, 9-11, 46:27-28, Ezekiel 36:24-28, 37:21-25, Joel 3:1-2, Amos 3:1-2, Romans 11:1-2 and Hebrews 8:8-13.

But what about the Gentiles? Weren’t they chosen as well? Not in the same way. Jesus went first to the Jews, who received Him not (John 1:11). In Matthew 28:20, the Great Commission directed all believers in Christ to share His Truth with any and all wherever they be. Paul went and preached to the Gentiles, in fact, all his New Testament books ( except possibly Hebrews) were written to Gentile Christians. Paul states that non-Jews become the adopted “sons” of God through Christ Jesus(Ephesians 1:5).

Only those who have accepted Christ Jesus as their Redeemer and Saviour become God’s children and heirs. We carry His name: Christ-ians. Yes, we are all His creation, but only His children bear His name. Notice that His chosen do Not even recognize Christ Jesus as the Messiah! Those that do, either call themselves Messianic Jews or Christians.

To the Almighty and Everliving God, it makes no difference if we are His adopted children or His chosen children…He just wants us to be His children…His beloved…His own. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, servant or free according to Galatians 3:28. In Galatians 3:7 we are told that those who have faith are the sons of Abraham and are therefore heirs of the promises made to Him as well. In John 1:12 we are told that: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right or privilege to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, thank You for accepting all those who truly believe in Christ as Your children. Thank You for loving us and for covering us with Your grace. Please help us to know what it really means to be Your child and help us walk in Your ways. To You we give all the praise, honour and the glory now and forever. Amen