Is Israel still God’s chosen people?

Beyond any doubt, God chose Israel to be His people in a special way. God stated His choice openly in Deuteronomy 7:6: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”

The next verse relates why God chose Israel: “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors” (Deuteronomy 7:7–8a). God’s choosing of Israel had nothing to do with them and everything to do with God.

A question that often arises is, “Is Israel still God’s chosen people?” After all, the New Testament speaks of all believers in Christ as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved” (Colossians 3:12; cf. 1 Peter 1:1), and, in Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:28).

We believe that, even as God is working through the church in this age, Israel is still God’s people in a unique way. The biblical basis for that statement is found in the Old Testament covenants and songs, Jewish history, the biblical prophecies, and the New Testament insistence that God is faithful.

Israel Is Still God’s People: The Covenants

God’s covenant with Abraham promised Abraham three things: a land, a posterity, and a blessing (Genesis 12:1–3). Through Abraham’s seed, the whole world would be blessed. In Genesis 13:15, God highlights the enduring nature of this covenant: “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever” (emphasis added). Importantly, the covenant did not depend on Abraham’s power to keep it. In fact, Abraham was not even conscious when God ratified the covenant by Himself (Genesis 15). Since God alone took the responsibility of blessing Abraham’s seed, the covenant was unconditional.

God reaffirmed the covenant with Abraham’s son Isaac (Genesis 21:12; 26:3–4), and with Isaac’s son Jacob (Genesis 28:14–15). From then on, every time God referred to Himself as “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” that covenant was remembered. God chose to have a perpetual relationship with Abraham’s descendants from generation to generation.

The covenant God made with David (and with Solomon) was likewise a unilateral, unconditional promise. That covenant assured David that God would “provide a place for my people Israel” where they will “no longer be disturbed” (2 Samuel 7:10). God would also establish a “house” and a “kingdom” for David (verses 11–12). And then God revealed the enduring nature of this covenant: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (verse 16, emphasis added).

From the beginning, Israel has had a unique relationship with God. Both the Abrahamic Covenant and the Davidic Covenant detail the special blessings God gave Israel, and both covenants are said to last forever.

Israel Is Still God’s People: Biblical History

The fact that Israel is God’s people is seen in their exodus from Egypt (Exodus 3—13). God split the Red Sea for them (Exodus 14). He met them at Mount Sinai and spoke to the nation personally (Exodus 19:16–19). He sustained them for forty years in the wilderness (Nehemiah 9:21) and brought them to the Promised Land (Nehemiah 9:22). Through it all, God’s treatment of Israel was based on His faithfulness to His covenants with them.

The unique relationship between Israel and God is seen in the theocratic nature of Israel’s early government. Israel was to be ruled directly by God. Moses, Joshua, and the judges acted as regents and intermediaries (see Judges 8:23). Eventually, the Israelites rejected that arrangement in favor of a king (1 Samuel 8:5–7). But, even in the time of the kings, God continued to dwell among His people in the tabernacle and, later, the temple (Exodus 29:44–46; 2 Chronicles 7:15–16). The ark of the covenant, which housed a copy of the covenant, was a symbol of God’s throne, the place where He ruled His people, Israel.

Even when the Israelites persisted in disobedience and God removed them from their land of blessing, God was faithful to His promises: “In your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God” (Nehemiah 9:31). In fact, God returned Israel to their land (see the books of Ezra and Nehemiah).

Israel Is Still God’s People: Biblical Poetry

The theme of God’s choosing Israel as His people continues through the book of Psalms. Here are just a few examples from that book:

Israel Is Still God’s People: The Prophecies

Throughout Israel’s history, God took pains to maintain His relationship with His chosen people through the prophets. Elijah, Isaiah, Hosea, Ezekiel, and others voiced God’s call for the nation to cease from their sinful dalliances and return to Him. And, in no uncertain terms, the prophets warned of the consequences of continued disobedience. God’s chosen people abused the prophets and ignored their message (Acts 7:52). Despite that rebellion, God remained committed to His covenantal people.

In a passage concerning the restoration of Israel, the prophet Isaiah pictures the city of Jerusalem as despairing of God’s help (Isaiah 49:14). In reply, God says,
In a similar passage promising restoration to the nation of Israel, the prophet Jeremiah relates God’s promise of steadfast love:
Later in the same context, Jeremiah writes this to God’s people, Israel:
And Zechariah, who also looked forward to the day of restoration, promises an event that shows the glory awaiting Israel in the future:
Israel Is Still God’s People: The New Testament

The apostle Paul directly answers the question, “Is Israel still God’s people?” in Romans 9—11. In this extended passage, Paul begins by expressing his deep, sincere love for his fellow Jews (Romans 9:1–4). He follows that with a brief overview of how God blessed them and used them to bring the Messiah into the world (verses 4–5).

Yet, Paul points out, it seems as if Israel has been rejected as God’s people. After centuries of rebellion, culminating in their rejection of their own Messiah (Acts 2:36; 3:13–15), there has been a stumbling and hardening of heart (Romans 9:6–33). Israel is zealous for God but has no true knowledge of God (Romans 10:2). They attempt to establish their own righteousness through keeping the law, and they reject the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ (Romans 10:3–13). In all this, they have become “a disobedient and obstinate people” (Romans 10:21, quoting Isaiah 65:2).

So, Paul asks, “Did God reject his people?” His answer is unequivocal: “By no means! . . . God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew” (Romans 11:1–2). Earlier in Romans, Paul had made the same point: “What if some [Jews] were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar” (Romans 3:3–4). That is, God’s promises to Israel are still in effect, despite human unfaithfulness.

The wording Paul uses to negate the idea that God has abandoned His people is a very strong negative in the Greek (mē genoito). When he says, “By no means!” (Romans 11:1) and “Not at all!” (Romans 3:4), he absolutely repudiates any notion that God is done with Israel. In fact, Paul follows it up with personal proof: “I am an Israelite myself” (Romans 11:1). If God has permanently abandoned His people, then Paul would not be saved.

The rest of Romans 11 is an explanation of Israel’s current state and God’s future plan for them. Currently, Israel has experienced a hardening of heart due to their rejection of the Messiah (Romans 11:7). They stumbled at the truth and have been set aside in God’s plan. To use Paul’s analogy, the “natural branches” of the olive tree have been set aside in favor of “a wild olive shoot” that has been grafted in their place. In other words, “because of [Israel’s] transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:11). But even this has a goal of reaching the Jews: salvation was brought to the Gentiles “to make Israel envious” (verse 11).

In teaching the “setting aside” of Israel, Paul repeats the truth that they are still God’s covenant people: “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all [(mē genoito]!” (Romans 11:11). As he wraps up his discussion, Paul further clarifies: “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11:25–26). Note three important things here:

So, yes, Israel is still God’s chosen people, even though, in their current state of rebellion, they have been temporarily set aside in God’s plan to bless the world. God is faithful. He will keep His promises to Israel, no matter what. That’s the meaning of Romans 11:29: “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” We should follow Paul’s lead and praise God for His faithfulness: “To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).