Who Are The People of God?
Who Are The People of God?
At first blush, this question may seem easy to answer; but, in fact, it is a bit more complex than we might imagine--and the Holy Scriptures themselves provide the reason for this.
We might conceive of a slight difference between the "people" of God, and the "children" of God--but, for our purposes, I will not pursue that distinction.
It is my understanding, based in my perusal of the Sacred Text, that there are at least four distinct categories that cover this question, "Who are the people of God?" Without further ado, here they are. . . .
First, what I am calling, the "Identified," or "Covenantal" people of God. These souls are properly-baptized Christian church members. They are "signed" and "sealed" through the sacrament of baptism, into the covenant (church) of God.
The second category I have in mind, is what I am calling, the "Prospective" people of God. By these, I mean those individuals who are elect of the Holy Trinity from all eternity--but who have not yet been called, via regeneration, through the Holy Spirit's sovereign application of the atonement of Christ.
The third delineation I would like to make, are those that I am calling, the "Current," or "Actual" people of God. These are the souls on earth (and in heaven) who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Not all of these people are yet signed and sealed in the visible church--but they are (in fact) members of the mystical body of Christ (the invisible church). All truly-regenerated souls will be bound to Jesus Christ as soon as they hear a clear gospel message; and they will be led by the Spirit into the true church and all the good blessings of Christ.
The fourth (and last) category I have in mind, is what I am referring to as the "Ancient," or "Patriarchal" people of God. By these, I mean the descendants of Abraham via the flesh, (the Jews). This particular classification would only include those Jews who do not fit into any of the three (prior) ones. In other words, these are not Christians (covenantal); these are not elect (prospective); and these are not actual (regenerated) people of God--and yet, there is a formal (though not saving) distinction that still has some relevancy, (cf. Rom. 1:16; 2:9 & 10). The authentic children of Abraham, the true "Israel of God," (Gal. 6:16b), are the vast myriads of people encapsulated in Categories 2 & 3 (above)--because only those who believe in and love Jesus are the actual descendants of Abraham, (cf. Jn. 8:56).
My Biblical justification for these four groups of "God's people," comes from the following sources. . . . As for the "Identified/Covenantal" people of God, we may appeal to Gal. 3:27: "For as many of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ," (ESV). With regard to the "Prospective" people of God, I would refer us to our blessed Redeemer's words of Jn. 10:16, which find Him saying this: "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd," (ESV). (Though this is an obvious reference to the Gentiles entering Christ's sheepfold--I think it also entails the reality of yet-unregenerated elect souls.) As for the third category of the "Current" or "Actual" people of God, I am thinking of texts such as Jn. 10:27, which records our Redeemer saying this: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me," (ESV). Finally, with regard to the last (and most complicated) classification, of the "Ancient/Patriarchal" people of God, I am going to cite Paul's words from Rom. 15:18, which state this: "For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs," (ESV).
I think, at the end of the day, it is important to say, that God has only one "people," one church. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself delineated all people into two ultimate camps, in Jn. 8:42a & 44a, when He said this: " . . . If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. . . . You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires," (ESV).
Let all of us be found to be true people (children) of God today, through regenerative faith in God's one and only (natural) Son, our blessed and beautiful Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #32
29 October 2025
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