My dear readers,

"Once Not God's People!" -- Romans 9:25-26

Romans 9:25-26 “As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.”

Every Gentile believer ought to be filled with the deepest sense of gratitude toward God because his salvation is accompanied by him being a holy witness on earth. He could never be a holy witness for God if he was not part of the people of God. He was rooted in idolatry and born in sin. But in Romans 9:25-26, God in His infinite grace and mercy, describes every Gentile believer as once not God's people but now he is called His people! The only true and visible people of God since the book of Exodus were the people of Israel. Israel was the only nation on earth that was founded on all things ordained by God. God gave Israel the Law of Moses to help them regulate their relationships with one another as they lived and witnessed in the Promised Land. He also gave them dietary laws and farming laws to live in holiness. Above all else He gave them religious laws on how to restore their relationship with God when they sinned against Him. These religious laws, called Levitical laws, had the power to cleanse them externally of their sins as they offered the clean animals by faith.

The Levitical system of worship was a figure of Christ’s work on the cross. Hebrews 9:8-14 “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Israel had been the only people of God on earth for centuries.

Are the Israelites today still called God's people? They are called God's people in the historical sense because they will always be a nation founded by God. But they are no longer God's people as a holy and national witness for Christ because they rejected Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah or Christ. Individual Jews who believe in Christ can become God’s people in both the spiritual as well as the historical sense. But Gentiles who believe in Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour are now called God's people. Together with the Jewish believers, they now witness for Christ as an ecclesiastical witness. The local church witness has replaced the national witness as the only visible people of God today. As long as the local church obeys the Word of God and ensures that every item of her witness, including worship services, ministries, Bible studies, fellowship groups, etc., are all done according to Holy Scriptures, she is a local church witness that Christ is pleased with. But if the local church does not exist according to Holy Scriptures and does what is right in her own eyes, then she is misrepresenting Christ. She is an abomination and becomes a snare used by the devil to seduce naive sinners into thinking that they are heading to heaven but sadly, hell is waiting for them! That is why it is of utmost importance that all truly born again Gentile believers know that they are God's people and must be found in a sound and biblical church to grow spiritually and be a Christ-like witness.

Gentile believers are not only called God’s people but beloved of God and children of the living God (cf. Rom 9:25-26). The term “God’s people” emphasizes their responsibilities as witnesses. This is in contrast to the people of the world who belong to Satan which was what Gentile believers were. But Gentile believers should behave and live differently now because they are motivated by the love of Christ and not mammon any longer. They should also think differently because they now have the mind of Christ. The phrase “beloved of God” emphasizes their personal and intimate relationship with God. They are cared for and protected by Him so that all things in their lives would work out for their spiritual well-being always. God will always love them with an unconditional and sacrificial love so that they can also love one another, even their enemies. Their heart must not be filled with anger and hatred and bitterness but with the love of God in Christ which they have received from Him and must be kept burning hotly like the heat of the sun.

The phrase “children of the living God” emphasizes their service as sons and daughters of their loving heavenly Father. They now serve without murmuring and complaining. Regardless of the hard work and persecution which they will surely face on earth as they live and serve in holiness, they will have no regrets and will not indulge in self-pity but will keep on serving faithfully to the end of their lives. They expect nothing from the ones who receive their loving service, for they serve their Father who art in heaven. They will be betrayed and cursed even by the people they love and give their lives for but they will bear no grudges because they serve as children of God, acknowledging that all they receive are from their heavenly Father above. If pain and persecution come upon them as payment for their life of service and selfless devotion for Christ, they will receive them with joy and thank God that He has counted them worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake.

All of us Gentile believers were once not God's people but now we are. Not only are we His people, we are also His beloved children. This truth must fill our hearts with deep gratitude and humility in service. Our devotion to Christ must be complete and total so that we will always worship Him in spirit and in truth. Once we are God’s people, we are God’s people forever. Therefore let us live for Christ as the people of God all the days of our lives! Amen.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service

Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Pastor