God's Holy People

Abstract

“To be the people of God in biblical terms means to live with the symbols of Exodus, Promised Land, covenant, and salvation: to live by grace. The complexities, evils, and values of statehood are the facts of human existence, and every generation must struggle with their comprehension, amelioration, and transmission. To do so as God's people is to rejoice in the opportunity of defining and contributing to the well-being of all men. The duty of God's people does not differ from human duty, but grace should be a gift, known, accepted, and transmitted by any people chosen by God. Grace is defined for us by those biblical symbols which have survived national or social aspirations to indicate a context in which men can learn to love one another.”