Abraham was instructed by God to leave his own relatives and country to go to one which the Lord would lead him, the Lord gave him some promises; Genesis 12:2. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing, this promise came to pass in the life of Abraham. In extension of this promise Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. Genesis 32:22-32.
A Chosen People above applied to Jacob whose descendant became Israel. We recollect that Abraham was promised by God. But, what was the composition of Old Testament Israel? According to the Bible, Israel was made up of:
- The descendants of Jacob (Exodus 1:1; Joshua 13:8,)
- Those who joined Israel through circumcision and keeping the law (Exodus 12:48) to the law and closeness to God (Yahweh) Keeping the covenant was a requirement for all those who wished to remain a part of Israel (Genesis 17:14).
The practice of the old covenant which was full of disobedience paved way for new covenant, this New Testament was established by Jesus Christ.
All the spiritual promises God made to Israel were fulfilled at Christ’s first coming. Acts 2:17 – 21 & Joel 2:28 – 32.
And it shall come pass in the last days, saith God I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit: and they shall prophesy: I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, vapour of smoke; The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come; and it shall come pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved).
We inherit these promises the same way Abraham did in Genesis 15:6 through our faith belief in our Redeemer and upon the righteousness of Christ we receive by at salvation. This is also where our “adoption” comes in Romans 8:15 – 17 “For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father.
The spirit itself heareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together”. Thanks be to God that we are extension of God’s chosen people through adoption. I Peter 2:1-10 writes in verse 9 to 10. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and holy nation, a peculiar people that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Which in time past were not a people but are now a people of God which had not obtain mercy but now have obtain mercy.
In this dispensation we Christian are children of God by adoption and a chosen people of God to carry out the gospel of Christ.