Several millennia ago the Divine Maker of everything choose Him a people. From all nations Jehovah God choose a set apart or holy people, because they were most faithful to the Creator.

The Divine Creator expelled the rebellious people from the Garden of Eden, but had straightly promised a solution against the curse of death, by His promise of a comforter. He continuously kept an eye onto His creatures. When it became so bad with humankind He allowed Noah to warn the people so that they would not be destroyed, but nobody seemed willing to listen. God brought an enormous flood over the world and kept only those in the ark of Noah safe. As such out of the family of Noah a new people was formed.

There were also people of the land (AmHa'Arez or Äm'haEretz) or native dwellers of the land such as the Hittites from who Abraham purchased the cave of Mach-Pelah. The population grew and each land had its own people: Egyptians, Canaanites and Hittites. Jehovah God saw how Abraham wanted to live according to God's Wishes, so He tried him out. The test succeeded and God made a promise with Abraham. With that covenant God made with Abraham it was indicating that nations and kings would be heirs to God His promises. As such Abraham was to be the father or patriarch of a multitude of nations.

God told the world that He was willing to have a special eye and ear to those who strictly obey His Voice. In that way He also made a promise with Moses:

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Ex 19:5-6 ASV)

Though to become a special people for God the Highest God of gods declared that they should not have other gods before them and were not allowed to make any graven images of Him or other gods to worship them.

“And God spake all these words, saying, I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Ex 20:1-7 ASV)

God gave Moses His commands, a possession of the congregation of Jacob.

“Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.” (De 33:4 ASV)

Judah got a blessing, them not to be just a few. God choose Israel to be His beloved people.

“ Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few. And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of Judah, And bring him in unto his people. With his hands he contended for himself; And thou shalt be a help against his adversaries.” (De 33:6-7 ASV)

“ Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Jehovah shall dwell in safety by him; He covereth him all the day long, And he dwelleth between his shoulders. And of Joseph he said, Blessed of Jehovah be his land, For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that coucheth beneath, And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, And for the precious things of the growth of the moons, And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, And for the precious things of the everlasting hills, And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” (De 33:12-16 ASV)

“ And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: He dwelleth as a lioness, And teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head. And he provided the first part for himself, For there was the lawgiver’s portion reserved; And he came with the heads of the people; He executed the righteousness of Jehovah, And his ordinances with Israel.” (De 33:20-21 ASV)

“ There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heavens for thy help, And in his excellency on the skies. The eternal God is thy dwelling-place, And underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy from before thee, And said, Destroy. And Israel dwelleth in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; Yea, his heavens drop down dew. Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, a people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help, And the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall submit themselves unto thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places.” (De 33:26-29 ASV)

Even when the people did wrong God was willing to pardon them and was not planning to desert them, when they were wiling to repent and to stay with Him, trying to follow Him. This because Jehovah has taken it upon Himself to make that people a People for Him. But God gave also a warning that He will not be endlessly patient. When they flagrantly would do what is bad they will be swept away, like God did already with the Flood and with Sodom and Gomorrah.

“ And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not; ye have indeed done all this evil; yet turn not aside from following Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all your heart: and turn ye not aside; for then would ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain. For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it hath pleased Jehovah to make you a people unto himself.” (1Sa 12:20-22 ASV)

“ Only fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.” (1Sa 12:24-25 ASV)

People should come to see that Jehovah God was willing to make Himself a strong people, able to go to the mountain of the House of Jehovah, firmly established above the top of other mountains which would be nothing against the one from Jehovah.

“ The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.” (Isa 2:1-5 ASV)

To belong to the people of God each person has to take care of himself or herself, trying to live according to God's Will, not having the house filled with valueless gods, not becoming low in God's eyes so that they will not be pardoned.

“ Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not.” (Isa 2:8-9 ASV)

The haughty eyes of earthling man shall receive its reward, namely to be made defunct because of the dreadfulness of Jehovah and from His splendid Superiority.

“ And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not. Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day. For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low; and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, and upon every lofty tower, and upon every fortified wall, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant imagery. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols shall utterly pass away.” (Isa 2:9-18 ASV)

God had chosen Himself a people, but not all of them kept to God and did understand the privileged position they had. In ancient times there were those with scatterbrains, the airheads with eyes that were not really wanting to look, and ears that could hear but didn’t really listen. Throughout the ages there were many who did not want to recognise the One Who made the shorelines to contain the ocean waters. God came to see uncontrollable, untameable runaways. To millions of people it never occurs to them to say,

‘How can we honour our GOD with our lives, The God who gives rain in both spring and autumn and maintains the rhythm of the seasons, Who sets aside time each year for harvest and keeps everything running smoothly for us?’

It is their wrong way of life, which does not please God, that blinds them to all the good things of the Sovereign Supreme Being and keep His blessings at a distance.

“ Declare ye this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; that have eyes, and see not; that have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it. But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Jehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; that preserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxed rich. They are waxed fat, they shine: yea, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they plead not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is come to pass in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer 5:20-31 ASV)

In a way we all come from the first human beings, Adam and Eve. As such, we can be considered to be "their children". We have come from them. Because of their rebellion against God, we too became sons and daughters or children of rebellion. for their wrongdoing they were given a sentence that cursed their bodies, and we have the same bodies, which now shall after death return to dust. Because of the wronging or sinning, man being mortal having to face pain, loss and death. In our life there shall come a moment that we become dead, and unable to know or think anything, until we are made over again at the resurrection. It is before we die that we have to make the right choice, willing to belong to this world of sinful people or to the world of God, becoming part of those who join the People of God.

God has promised to bring again His people from the grave. At first the People of God were the Israelites or those who fell under the Covenant People from Abraham. But because they had so many centuries the opportunity to seal their relationship with God, Jehovah opened the way also to goyim or non-Jews to become part of His People, becoming too Children of God.

Those who know and love the Only One True God Who is One and who believe His promises and obey His commandments are the ones God is willing to receive as His children and His People.

The first people of God were the descendants of Abraham, who were going to be made into a great nation, and will be blessed by God Who shall make their name great, so that they will be a blessing.

“ and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing:” (Ge 12:2 ASV)

As chosen people they should be an example to others. Throughout the Bible, the Jewish people are consistently referred to as the people of God. After sharing the Ten Commandments and the Law with the Israelites, Moses lets them know that they are the people of God out of all peoples:

“ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Ex 19:5-6 ASV)

“ But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1Pe 2:9 ASV)

Originally God has put His words in the mouth of the men He chose out of His people and covering them in the shadow of His hand, and saying to Zion that they are His people.

“ And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.” (Isa 51:16 ASV)

“ Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In that day when my people Israel dwelleth securely, shalt thou not know it?” (Eze 38:14 ASV)

When the Nazarene Jew Jeshua (Jesus) came telling about His heavenly Father and His promises, many wondered if the salvation he was talking about would only be for the Jews. It is true that Jeshua or Jesus came to his own people. They normally had received enough signs, given in the scrolls, to be able to recognise him. But they didn’t want him. A lot of the People of God did not want to see the promised one of God. In his public life Jesus not only spoke to Jews. Anybody willing to hear his words was welcome to hear and to receive them. As such there were also non-Jews who came to love this sent one from God and recognise him as the Messiah (Kristos or Christ) the anointed one from God. Whoever did want to accept this sent one from God, believing who he claimed to be (the son of God) and would do what he said, Jesus made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.

“ He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Joh 1:11-13 ASV)

From the time of Jesus onwards there came a change in the bond between God and man. From then onwards it did not matter where a person came from. It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help.

“ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:” (Ro 10:12 ASV)

When you want to be a child of God or want to belong to the People of God, you too have an opportunity to belong to the Great family of the People of God. What matters for the new generation of the People of God is that they worship the Only One True or Real God and follow the teachings of His only begotten son. When willing to be united or in union as a part of the Body of Christ, that person can become a child of God and be part of God's People. When being in Christ that person can call himself also a heir according to the promise.

“ There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.” (Ga 3:28-29 ASV)

“ But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1Pe 2:9-10 ASV)

God has called everybody who wants to hear. Since the first coming of Christ it doesn't require being of Jewish descent to be the people of God. Today the people of God may be from all different ethnic or social-cultural backgrounds. Of great importance is their willingness to come to God and to accept His sent one as the way to God. What unites the people of God is that they have all made the choice to go for that One God Who is One, and not two or three, and that they do not want to follow the ways of the world, but the Way of God.

To all who did receive Jeshua or Jesus, who believed in his name, there is given the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And as a child of God one also belongs to the People of God. To belong to it one does not have to be circumcised any more, but should be born again. That rebirth should come by whitewashing out of the Spirit, putting away our fleshy chains.

“ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God! That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (Joh 3:5-8 ASV)

Those who have been regenerated by the Spirit and have become children of God will show evidence of their adoption by way of a transformed mind and life. This way they can take the same role as the ancient People of God, having to be an example to others, so that those other people also should be able to come closer to God.

“ And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Ro 12:2 ASV)

Man may not forget that the relationship of God to His people is more than His calling; they also should call Him their God and have no other gods besides Him. Everything we do for That God should be done freely, with a great heart. From several examples and stories in the Holy Scriptures we can see that God’s people are identified more by their willingness to give themselves to Him than by their nationality.

In the Old Testament, the “people of God” are those who are associated with God’s purposes and promises related to Israel, and especially to the God of Israel. In the New Testament, we can find an addition to the “people of God” namely those who have come to faith in Israel’s promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, and who are thus members of the body of Christ, the church. The Bible uses the same Old Testament terminology in referring to the Israelites as the “people of God” as it does for New Testament followers of Christ.

“ Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Ex 19:5-6 ASV)

“ ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Pe 2:5 ASV)

“ But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1Pe 2:9 ASV)

All those wanting to belong to God's People have to give themselves to Jehovah God, willing to be a servant to be a “light to the Gentiles,” showing them the truth, so they too could enter into God’s blessings:

“ yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isa 49:6 ASV)

The ancient People of God had and like all Jews still have to do when wanting to belong to the People of God, is to prove to be worthy of their privileged position. Belonging to the People of God brings with it awesome responsibilities. God’s people must be a holy or set apart people, because their God is holy:

“ Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy; for I Jehovah your God am holy.” (Le 19:2 ASV)

It are God's commandments which set the standard of holiness which God’s people were to uphold. They were to diligently keep the covenant God had made with His people and to carefully observe His laws. The new People of God is not exempt from following God's Law, but some laws have been relaxed. Christians have to follow the teachings of Christ and are under the New Covenant God has made with His beloved son.

“ Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.” (De 6:17 ASV)

For the newly added group who now can join the People of God there is the need of faith in Messiah which gained one entrance into the “people of God”. That faith is also the kind of faith which produced obedience by the ancient People of God. Thus, just as the Old Testament People of God were set apart by their obedience to God’s Law, so those who trusted in Jesus were to be known by their obedience:

“ And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren? And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mr 3:31-35 ASV)

Becoming brothers and sisters in Christ, trusting the Singular God of Jesus, real followers of Christ know that by their call of God and appointment by Jesus Christ, that they should go and bear fruit, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and being, like the Jews should do, an example God worthy.

In the past God had made it clear that He would make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, which would not be like the covenant which Jehovah made with the fathers of God's People in the day He guided them.

“ Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:” (Jer 31:31-33 ASV)

Now we fall under that New Covenant, which has opened the gates for non Jews or all those who want to become a child of God, coming to Him, saying Abba, Father. by the sacrificial offering of Christ the New Covenant is sealed.

“ And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.” (Lu 22:19-20 ASV)

“ Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” (Eph 2:11-22 ASV)