God's people

As we read the New Testament about the people of God, we sometimes overlook a very important aspect of what God did; His plans and actions are usually targeted at a group of people. This very important aspect of God‘s character began in the Old Testament when He chose a group of people, the Jews, with which to build a relationship to replace the one destroyed by Adam and Eve. Certainly, there were various faithful individuals selected and invited to perform specific tasks, but the Jews were chosen as a group. From this group, certain faithful people would be invited to perform needed activities. Individual allegiance to this chosen group depended on faithfulness of each individual. The New Testament also speaks about a different group of chosen people, the called out into a kingdom people, the church. Because of God’s grace, all people in His creation are invited to accept Jesus as Savior; the ones who do accept Him, have their sins eliminated, and are added to the kingdom. Caused by many different events, these kingdom people became dispersed across a massive area of the world. Peter speaks to one group of people in this kingdom, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” - 1 Peter 1:1-2 (ASV) As Jews, they would have an intimate knowledge of the Old Testament prophets, and especially Elijah. Christians must strive to remember our sins have been eliminated because of Jesus’ actions. When the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, we are progressively made holy, dedicated so we may continue Jesus’ goal of introducing the people met, to God. We must remember we are cleansed by Jesus' sacrifice, made holy by the Holy Spirit, and chosen by God to do his work in our surroundings of His world.