The Jews are God’s chosen people according to the flesh. This means that the Jewish ethnicity is the only race that God claims as His own. He calls them His people:
“I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”
(Joel 3:2 KJV)
While many would want to take issue with this, it is God’s decision regarding what He does—He chooses. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) has chosen them as His nation among all the peoples of the earth. The rest are referred to as Gentiles.
However, under the New Testament (since the time of Christ), God’s chosen people (spiritually) are all those who have put their faith in Christ. This includes many people across the world from multiple ethnicities, including Jews, but mostly the Gentile nations. This includes Caucasian, African, Asian, Oriental, Middle Eastern, and so on.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
(Mark 16:15-16)
The good news is that Christ died for all of mankind and is the Saviour of the world, and the Gospel has been opened up to the whole world to whosoever would believe.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16)
So, what about the Jews now? Are they still God’s chosen people? Yes, as an ethnic people, they are still chosen; this has not changed. God has a plan for them, and there are many promises to them that have not been fulfilled. Also, regarding end-time Bible prophecy, much of it will revolve around the nation of Israel:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.”
(Matthew 24:15-16)
In AD 70, God judged the Jews, which resulted in the fall of Jerusalem and the scattering of the Jewish people.
However, God said he would regather them and establish them once again:
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”
(Ezekiel 36:24)
Also, upon Christ’s return, there will be a great reunion, national repentance, and mourning in Israel as they finally receive Christ as their Messiah. This is confirmed in both Old and New Testament teachings.
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”
(Zechariah 12:10)
Hatred for the Jews and persecution against them is called Antisemitism.
So, does God approve of Judaism? No, unfortunately, Paul the apostle said that their religion is in error. Judaism is still looking for the Messiah, but Christianity declares that He has already come and is the Saviour of the world—Jesus Christ. This is the fundamental difference between Christianity and Judaism.
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”
(Romans 10:1-3)
Yet, many Jews have embraced Christ (these are called the remnant), and as previously mentioned, the whole nation will embrace Christ in the future.
So, the hope, prayer, and belief in the Christian church should be that the Jewish people will come to faith in their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ will return to Jerusalem and fully restore the nation of Israel.
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”
(Acts 1:8)